Former Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg admitted to perjury charges in a New York state court. The charges revolve around misleading financial statements regarding Donald Trump‘s penthouse.
Weisselberg, a longtime ally of Trump, pleaded guilty to misleading investigators about the penthouse’s exaggerated size. As part of his plea agreement, he faces a five-month jail term. These charges come ahead of Trump’s impending criminal trial, intensifying legal scrutiny on the former president.
Judge Laurie Peterson at a Manhattan criminal court hearing indicated a five-month jail sentence for Weisselberg. This would mark his second stint behind bars after surrendering earlier on Monday. Weisselberg’s guilty plea emerges amidst a broader legal battle surrounding Trump.
The charges stem from inflated financial statements related to Trump’s Manhattan penthouse, where he falsely claimed a size nearly three times its actual dimensions.
Weisselberg’s plea agreement includes admission to lying on the witness stand during a civil fraud trial against Trump. Additionally, he confessed to providing false information during two earlier depositions with the New York State Attorney General’s office.
These revelations indicate a pattern of deceit surrounding Trump’s financial affairs. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, which brought the charges against Weisselberg, emphasized his active role in misleading financial disclosures.
Trump’s 2015 and 2016 financial statements valued the penthouse at an exorbitant $327 million. However, subsequent valuations between $105.9 and $131.3 million were also deemed inflated. Judge Peterson scheduled Weisselberg’s sentencing for April 10.
Meanwhile, Weisselberg’s attorney expressed his client’s eagerness to move past the situation. Despite Weisselberg’s guilty plea, there’s no indication of him cooperating with the District Attorney, raising questions about potential implications for Trump and the Trump Organization.
