(BrightPress.org) – Allen Weisselberg pleaded guilty to perjury charges on Monday, March 4th. Weisselberg, ex-CFO of Donald Trump’s family real estate company, admitted to lying about the size of Donald Trump’s Fifth Avenue Manhattan triplex. Weisselberg admitted to “misleading” New York state investigators about financial statements showing the size of Trump’s apartment to be around 30,000 square feet when in reality the apartment is just under 11,000 square feet.
During his Trial, Weisselberg was confronted with emails from a Forbes reporter concerning the size of Trump’s apartment and a letter signed by Weisselberg concerning the size discrepancy to the Trump Organization’s accounting firm.
An article in Forbes magazine suggests Weisselberg purposefully gave the incorrect dimensions to help cover up “hush money” that was paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels preceding the 2016 presidential election. Steven Cheung, a campaign spokesperson for Trump, accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of being on a “crusade of vindictive and oppressive pressure” leading to a “forced plea” by Weisselberg. Attorney for Trump, Christopher Kise, accused Bragg of a “tyrannical attempt” to impede Trump’s ascent to the White House.
Weisselberg also pleaded guilty in 2022 to evading taxes on almost $2 million in “off-the-books” compensation including school tuition for his grandchildren, a luxury car, and an apartment, received from the Trump Organization. The 76-year-old was sentenced to 5 months in Rikers Island jail and served 100 days of the sentence before being released.
A criminal trial for Donald Trump will begin on March 25th, where Trump will face charges that he falsified business records to cover the “hush money” he allegedly paid to Stormy Daniels. Weisselberg is not expected to be called as a witness in the trial. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Manhattan Judge Laurie Peterson said she would sentence Weisselberg to five months in jail on April 10th.
Weisselberg’s attorney, Seth Rosenberg, said in a statement that Weisselberg is ready to put the situation behind him.
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