New York City, NY – Lawyers involved in the civil fraud trial of former President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that they had no information to share regarding a key witness who is reportedly negotiating a guilty plea for perjury. The witness in question is Allen Weisselberg, the former finance chief at Trump’s company, the Trump Organization.
Judge Arthur Engoron had requested the lawyers to provide him with letters detailing any knowledge they had about Weisselberg’s situation. Last week, The New York Times reported that Weisselberg was engaged in negotiations with the Manhattan district attorney’s office to plead guilty to perjury and admit that he lied on the witness stand during the civil fraud trial in October.
Two individuals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were unauthorized to comment publicly, informed The Associated Press that Manhattan prosecutors were considering filing a perjury charge against Weisselberg. However, Alina Habba, Weisselberg’s attorney in the civil fraud case, stated that she does not represent him in any criminal matters and has not been in contact with the Manhattan district attorney’s office regarding his reported plea negotiations.
Kevin Wallace, senior enforcement counsel in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office, clarified that he and other state lawyers involved in the fraud case were not involved in Weisselberg’s reported negotiations. Wallace acknowledged that they were unaware of the specific aspects of Weisselberg’s testimony that were under scrutiny.
However, Wallace pointed out that there were multiple instances where Weisselberg’s trial testimony was contradicted by other witnesses and evidence. For example, the ex-CFO claimed to have limited knowledge or awareness of how Trump’s penthouse at Trump Tower was overvalued on his financial statements. Wallace also highlighted Weisselberg’s previous conviction for tax fraud as a potential reason for his false testimony.
Wallace urged the judge not to delay the verdict, arguing that it would reward Weisselberg and other defendants, including Trump, for testimony that may have been false. The verdict in the case, which centers around allegations of Trump inflating his wealth to deceive banks and insurers, is expected to be delivered by mid-February.
In response, defense lawyers criticized the judge for asking them to respond to what they considered a speculative media account. Trump’s lawyer, Christopher Kise, dismissed concerns about Weisselberg’s testimony as mere distractions from weaknesses in the state’s case.
The developments surrounding Weisselberg’s potential perjury charge have added another layer of complexity to Trump’s ongoing legal battles. As the trial nears its conclusion, the focus remains on the evidence presented and the credibility of witnesses, including Weisselberg.