Longtime top accountant for the Trump Organization Allen Weisselberg, testified at trial that former President Donald Trump was aware of — and personally approved — the fraudulent accounting for which his family business is now under criminal indictment, Rolling Stone reported Tuesday.
“Former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg testified Tuesday that Donald Trump personally green-lighted untaxed benefits that are the center of a Manhattan criminal trial against several of the ex-president’s eponymous companies — including a gratis residence in New York City,” the report states. “‘The rent was authorized by Donald Trump,’ Weisselberg said less than two hours into his time on the stand in State Supreme Court in Manhattan. The septuagenarian, who sported a deep gray suit and pale blue tie, spoke matter of factly.”
“Prosecutors allege that the Trump Organization participated in an illicit compensation scheme that illegally lined Weisselberg’s pockets to the tune of $1.7 million of untaxed income. Weisselberg in August pleaded guilty to a 15-count indictment related to these unlawful payouts and, according to Weisselberg’s plea agreement, he ‘must testify truthfully’ if called to testify at trial.”
Trump’s lawyers fought back and tried to throw Weisselberg under the bus by accusing him of lying.
Read the full report in Rolling Stone Magazine.
