Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of Donald Trump’s company, has pleaded guilty to perjury in connection with testimony given in the ex-president’s civil fraud case. The 76-year-old has entered guilty pleas to two counts of perjury and faces a five-month jail sentence, marking his second stint behind bars following a 100-day sentence last year in an unrelated tax fraud case.
The charges stem from Weisselberg’s testimony during a July 2020 deposition in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ case against Trump. Prosecutors accuse him of lying under oath about allegations that Trump misrepresented his wealth on financial statements provided to banks and insurance companies.
Weisselberg’s guilty pleas also extend to his admission, without formal guilt, of lying on the witness stand during the ex-president’s civil fraud trial last fall. The guilty plea comes ahead of Trump’s scheduled trial on separate charges related to falsifying business records, specifically allegations of covering up hush money payments made during the 2016 campaign. Trump, who denies any wrongdoing, is appealing a judgment that requires him to pay over $454 million in fines and interest for submitting fraudulent information about his asset values.
Weisselberg’s lawyer, Seth Rosenberg, stated that Weisselberg looks forward to putting this situation behind him. The former CFO’s guilty plea comes weeks before Trump’s trial on separate allegations, adding another layer to the legal challenges surrounding the former president.
It’s important to note that Weisselberg’s case is distinct from the criminal case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg against Trump last year. Weisselberg had previously served 100 days in jail for tax evasion on $1.7 million in off-the-books compensation from the Trump Organization.
As Weisselberg faces a new legal chapter, the evolving legal landscape around Trump continues to captivate public attention, with broader implications for the future of Trump’s legal challenges and the legal scrutiny surrounding his business practices.
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