Allen Weisselberg, Donald Trump’s former finance chief, faced questioning from the New York attorney general’s office regarding allegations of exaggerating Trump’s bank balance by billions. Weisselberg, who oversaw Trump’s company finances for decades and was previously convicted of tax fraud, took the stand as part of AG Tish James’ case against Trump and his top executives. Judge Arthur Engoron had already determined that Weisselberg, Trump, and others committed fraud by inflating Trump’s net worth, leading to the stripping of Trump’s New York business licenses. The trial continues with the AG’s remaining claims focusing on the conspiracy and methods used to carry out the valuation scheme.
The AG’s case revolves around Weisselberg’s alleged oversight of Trump’s financial statements, which allegedly inflated the values of Trump’s assets to secure better interest rates and illegal cost-saving measures. The AG aims to prevent Trump and his co-defendants from leading a New York business in the future. During the trial, Weisselberg repeatedly claimed not to know or recall critical details about the paperwork central to the case, including discussions with Trump and his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen. However, Weisselberg did admit to sharing the statements with Trump before finalization. Despite evidence of Trump’s knowledge of certain inaccuracies, Weisselberg downplayed his boss’s involvement in the fraud.
Weisselberg, who had previously served time in jail for tax fraud, revealed that Trump had ensured his comfort after his release with a $2 million severance package. It remains unclear who among Trump’s legal team is handling Weisselberg’s defense in the AG’s case. Earlier reports had indicated that Weisselberg’s trusted criminal defense attorney had been replaced due to concerns that he would prioritize Weisselberg’s interests over Trump’s. The trial continues with the remaining claims, which focus on the conspiracy and methods employed by Trump and his associates to carry out the valuation scheme.
