Former President Donald Trump’s ex-chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, has pleaded guilty to perjury charges stemming from his testimony in Trump’s civil fraud trial. Weisselberg admitted to knowingly providing false information about the size of Trump’s Fifth Avenue triplex in Manhattan to obtain favorable loans and other economic benefits.
The Manhattan judge questioned Weisselberg during his court appearance, to which he responded affirmatively that he was guilty. Gary Fishman presented the perjury case from the Manhattan district attorney’s office, emphasizing the damaging impact of perjury on the justice system. Weisselberg, who will turn 77 in August, is scheduled to be sentenced to five months in jail on April 10 but was released on his recognizance.
In response to the guilty plea, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, accusing him of vindictive and oppressive pressure. Trump’s attorney, Christopher Kise, echoed these sentiments, stating that the charges have no place in the justice system. On the other hand, the Manhattan DA’s office asserted that perjury is a severe offense and emphasized Weisselberg’s responsibility to be truthful. This is Weisselberg’s second criminal conviction, having previously pleaded guilty in 2022 to tax evasion charges related to off-the-books compensation from the Trump Organization.
Weisselberg’s admission of guilt follows recent negotiations with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office to address accusations of perjury during a civil trial. In this trial, he, alongside Donald Trump, Trump’s two adult sons, and another ex-executive of the Trump Organization, were held responsible for fraudulent activities.
Weisselberg faced difficulties during his testimony, particularly when attempting to reconcile the conflicting reports regarding the size of Trump’s triplex apartment. Although financial documents claimed the property was 30,000 square feet, it measures less than 11,000 square feet. Forbes magazine highlighted Weisselberg’s possible perjury by pointing out his potential role in overstating the apartment’s dimensions to the publication. When presented with concrete evidence during the trial, Weisselberg acknowledged the actual size of the apartment.
Although Weisselberg is not expected to be a witness in the upcoming criminal trial against Trump for falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, the Manhattan district attorney’s office has claimed that Weisselberg advised Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, on how to make the payment and arranged for Cohen to be reimbursed in installments. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing concerning the hush money payment.
As the legal proceedings continue, the guilty plea from Weisselberg adds another layer to the ongoing investigations into the Trump Organization’s financial dealings. The outcome of these cases will have significant implications for both Weisselberg and Trump and the broader public’s perception of the former president and his business practices.
