Why Allen Weisselberg’s parole may be in serious danger: legal expert
In April, Allen Weisselberg — former chief financial officer for the Trump Organization — was released from Rikers Island after serving about four months of a five-month sentence on charges that included falsifying business records, criminal tax fraud and grand larceny. New York State Attorney General Letitia James had launched a criminal investigation of Weisselberg in 2021, and he agreed to a plea deal with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office in 2022.
Former President Donald Trump himself was not indicted in that case, but he has been the target of a civil fraud lawsuit initiated by James. Trump's bench trial in James' civil case, with Justice Arthur F. Engoron presiding, is now taking place.
In an article published by MSNBC on October 17, legal analyst Lisa Rubin emphasizes that if Weisselberg committed alleged perjury, his parole may be in danger.
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On October 12, Rubin notes, Forbes Magazine published a report describing alleging that Weisselberg may have committed in court.
Rubin explains, "The alleged perjury occurred, in Forbes' account, when Weisselberg testified on October 10 that he was not involved in or focused on the valuation of Trump's triplex apartment in Trump Tower in Manhattan. Forbes not only asserted that Weisselberg 'played a key role in trying to convince Forbes over the course of several years that it (the apartment) was worth more than it really was' and 'took a very detailed approach in reviewing Trump's assets with Forbes,' but also, revealed it has documents, including e-mails and reporters' notes — some of which were not in James' possession as of last week."
Rubin notes that five years of probation was part of Weisselberg's plea deal with the Manhattan DA's Office.
"Specifically, as the transcript from Weisselberg’s August 18, 2022 plea hearing reflects, one of the conditions of his probation is that he 'not engage in any criminal conduct,'" Rubin observes. "And under New York law, perjury is a crime. New York Penal Law 210-15, for example, provides 'a person is guilty of perjury in the first degree when he swears falsely and when his false statement (a) consists of testimony, and (b) is material to the action, proceeding, or matter in which it is made.' Significantly, perjury in the first degree is also a felony punishable by up to seven years."
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Read Lisa Rubin's full MSNBC article at this link.
