Judge wants answers, key witness in Trump fraud trial may plead guilty to perjury

[Social Media]

 

The judge overseeing Donald Trump's civil fraud trial has raised concerns after reports emerged suggesting a key witness, Allen Weisselberg, may plead guilty to perjury related to his testimony in the lawsuit. Judge Arthur Engoron, in an email posted to the trial docket on Tuesday, urged lawyers involved in the case to provide detailed information about the situation surrounding Weisselberg's potential perjury.

 

The judge emphasized the significance of the matter, stating that he would need to consider disregarding all of Weisselberg's testimony if he were to admit to lying on the witness stand. Engoron's email referenced a report from The New York Times indicating that Weisselberg was in negotiations with the Manhattan district attorney's office to plead guilty to perjury and confess to lying during the civil fraud trial last October.

 

In response to these developments, Engoron reached out to the lawyers representing Trump, Weisselberg, the Trump Organization, and other defendants, as well as counsel for the New York Attorney General Letitia James' office, which initiated the civil fraud case. The judge requested their input on how to address the situation, including the timing of his final decision in the case, which court officials anticipate will be ready by mid-February.

 

Weisselberg, the former longtime finance chief at the Trump Organization, was one of 40 witnesses who testified during the civil fraud trial, where he faced questions about allegations regarding Trump's financial statements. His testimony regarding the valuation of Trump's penthouse at Trump Tower has reportedly drawn scrutiny from prosecutors in the Manhattan district attorney's office.

 

Weisselberg testified that he had little knowledge of how the penthouse's size discrepancy was reflected in Trump's financial statements, stating that it was not a significant factor in his assessment of Trump's wealth. However, prosecutors are reportedly focused on whether Weisselberg's claims on the witness stand align with the facts, particularly concerning his interactions with Forbes magazine regarding the penthouse's value.

 

The potential ramifications for Weisselberg are significant, considering his prior legal troubles. Last year, he served 100 days in jail for tax evasion related to perks from the Trump Organization and testified as a prosecution witness in a tax fraud trial against the company. A guilty plea for perjury in the civil fraud trial could lead to further legal consequences, including imprisonment.

 

The inquiry into Weisselberg's testimony in the civil lawsuit is distinct from the criminal case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg against Trump last year over alleged falsification of company records to conceal hush money payments. However, these developments could have implications for both cases as they unfold.

 

07.02.24

Source

 

[flyingtlger]

Stick a fork into tRump.

He's done....

 

[steven100]

4 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

Stick a fork into tRump.

He's done....

 

 

we can only hope soooooo  ........    I'm sick & tired of his picture and name in the news 10 times on Yahoo webpage.

I hope he gets locked up and that's the last we hear of him .... 

 

Biden is old so he's not much of a choice either ....

 

The US is in serious need of a young President with enough intelligence to run the country.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

The penalties are only going in one direction.

 

Weisselberg seems intent on getting free accommodation from the DOJ.

 

Get your ‘pop liquid gold’ ready, this is all going to get a bit brutal.

 

 

[JonnyF]

I suspect Mr Engoron wants more than just answers.

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-trump-fraud-case-judge-arthur-engoron-bio-2023-10

 

[Chomper Higgot]

8 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

I suspect Mr Engoron wants more than just answers.

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-trump-fraud-case-judge-arthur-engoron-bio-2023-10

 

It’s Weissman that Judge Ergoron wants answers from. 
 

Perjury being a rather serious crime.

 

 

[EastBayRay]

32 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

I suspect Mr Engoron wants more than just answers.

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-trump-fraud-case-judge-arthur-engoron-bio-2023-10

 

Damn straight

 

the US courts are an embarrassment right now

[LS24]

Quite ans interesting read here. Open the link in privacy mode to avoid the paywall https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-donald-trumps-incredible-cash-crunch?ref=home

 

[Danderman123]

5 hours ago, JonnyF said:

I suspect Mr Engoron wants more than just answers.

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-trump-fraud-case-judge-arthur-engoron-bio-2023-10

 

Why do you think Weisselberg lied on the stand to protect Trump?

[Danderman123]

5 hours ago, EastBayRay said:

Damn straight

 

the US courts are an embarrassment right now

You do know that many Federal judges were appointed by Republicans...why are their courts an embarassment?

[Chomper Higgot]

12 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

Why do you think Weisselberg lied on the stand to protect Trump?

Why he, and others, are willing to go to Prison to protect Trump is a bigger question and one deserving of an answer.

 

 

Edited February 8 by Chomper Higgot

[Danderman123]

9 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Why he, and others, are willing to go to Prison to protect Trump is a bigger question and one deserving of an answer.

Some of tge Trump fluffers here would go to jail for Trump in an instant.

 

But, clearly Judge Engoron is thrashing about in an unprecedented situation, as a key witness thinks about pleading to perjury in the trial.

 

Perhaps the Trump fans here have some advice.

 

Nope, no independent thought from them, if its not in a talking point, they can't post it.

 

So, my opinion is that Engoron has to work around Weisselberg and make a decision.

 

 

[jerrymahoney]

Lawyers on both sides in Donald Trump fraud case urge judge to ignore reported perjury inquiry
The judge, Arthur Engoron, said perjury by Trump's former chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, might affect his ruling, but government lawyers argued other evidence already contradicted him.
Bart Jansen
USA TODAY

6 PM ET update 07 Feb 2024

Lawyers for Donald Trump and the New York attorney general's office both told the judge Wednesday in his civil fraud trial he shouldn't delay ruling in the case because of reports a witness possibly committed perjury while testifying.

 

Government lawyers handling the civil case said they were unaware of any plea negotiations between Trump's former chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, as reported in the The New York Times.

 

“At this time, we are not involved in any negotiations and are unaware of what specific trial testimony may be the subject of the plea negotiations or whether Mr. Weisselberg has conceded that he testified falsely,” wrote Kevin Wallace, senior enforcement counsel for the attorney general's office.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/02/07/donald-trump-fraud-trial-witness-possible-perjury/72507168007/

Edited February 8 by jerrymahoney

[LS24]

The link that I posted yesterday makes like of some quite stern rules in NY state about anyone attempting to appeal what most are expecting Judge Engoran to hand down.

 

Apparently if found guilty, Trump will need to stump up the full amount of the ruling + 9% PA interest compounded since the case was opened back in 2016 just to attempt an appeal. That is a whole lot of coin.

 

The article also makes the point that no bond agent or financial institution would likely touch Trump because if he were to win presidency, he could simply ignore any repayments to bond agency or financial institutions and they would have no recourse for a sitting president.

 

If Engoron freezes assets as part of a ruling, then Trump couldn't liquidate real estate to raise funds. It will be interesting to see if some Russians or Arabs with deep pockets come to bail out Trump. Now that would be interesting.

 

New York may just have pinned this grifter for good this time.

[jerrymahoney]

2 hours ago, LS24 said:

If Engoron freezes assets as part of a ruling, then Trump couldn't liquidate real estate to raise funds. It will be interesting to see if some Russians or Arabs with deep pockets come to bail out Trump. Now that would be interesting.

Just to note that Judge Engoron could only freeze Trump's New York State assets.

[placeholder]

21 hours ago, EastBayRay said:

Damn straight

 

the US courts are an embarrassment right now

LIke the Supreme Court? Which  ruled against the forces crying election fraud in 2020? Or the 2 highly conservative judges who lambasted Aileen Cannon for her ruling that favored Trump? Conservative and liberal justices alike have repeatedly ruled against Trump.

[Eric Loh]

29 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Just to note that Judge Engoron could only freeze Trump's New York State assets.

His NY assets are all his prized assets like the TRump Tower, Mar-a-Lago, Trump Park Avenue among others. 

[jerrymahoney]

10 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

His NY assets are all his prized assets like the TRump Tower, Mar-a-Lago, Trump Park Avenue among others. 

Trump owns Trump Parc.

 

As of 2021, the building's official owner is GMAC Commercial Mortgage, according to the New York City Department of City Planning.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_Tower

Since 1982, the building has been owned by two German companies. The leasehold was held by interests on behalf of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the mid-1980s. A company controlled by developer and later U.S. president Donald Trump bought the lease in 1995.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40_Wall_Street

 

Mar-a-Largo is in Florida.
 

[Eric Loh]

2 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Mar-a-Largo is in Florida.
 

My mistake. Thanks. 

[xylophone]

16 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

Why do you think Weisselberg lied on the stand to protect Trump?

"Birds of a feather", perhaps!!

[thaibeachlovers]

On 2/7/2024 at 11:31 AM, steven100 said:

we can only hope soooooo  ........    I'm sick & tired of his picture and name in the news 10 times on Yahoo webpage.

I hope he gets locked up and that's the last we hear of him .... 

Yeah, it's such a shame that the media keeps putting him out there. We'd all be better off if they reported real news instead of the Trump obsession articles.

 

BTW, if he did get locked up it would likely cause such chaos that you'd wish he hadn't been.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

Some of tge Trump fluffers here would go to jail for Trump in an instant.

 

But, clearly Judge Engoron is thrashing about in an unprecedented situation, as a key witness thinks about pleading to perjury in the trial.

 

Perhaps the Trump fans here have some advice.

 

Nope, no independent thought from them, if its not in a talking point, they can't post it.

 

So, my opinion is that Engoron has to work around Weisselberg and make a decision.

 

 

But, clearly Judge Engoron is thrashing about in an unprecedented situation, as a key witness thinks about pleading to perjury in the trial.

 

 

Do try and get it right. At least read the OP.

 

 

On 2/7/2024 at 10:39 AM, Social Media said:

Engoron's email referenced a report from The New York Times indicating that Weisselberg was in negotiations with the Manhattan district attorney's office to plead guilty to perjury and confess to lying during the civil fraud trial last October.

 

[LS24]

3 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

Just to note that Judge Engoron could only freeze Trump's New York State assets.

Sure, but then he needs to sell other non NY assets at fire sale price because everyone in town will know he has his twins in a vice. Or is it the case that anything under the NY based LLC is up for grabs for freezing by Judge?

Edited February 8 by LS24
Added.

[jerrymahoney]

5 minutes ago, LS24 said:

Sure, but then he needs to sell other non NY assets at fire sale price because everyone in town will know he has his twins in a vice. Or is it the case that anything under the NY based LLC is up for grabs for freezing by Judge?

Beats me. I just commented that what many think are some his 'prime NY assets" are merely leasing arrangements even if his name is on the building.

[candide]

7 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

Lawyers on both sides in Donald Trump fraud case urge judge to ignore reported perjury inquiry
The judge, Arthur Engoron, said perjury by Trump's former chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, might affect his ruling, but government lawyers argued other evidence already contradicted him.
Bart Jansen
USA TODAY

6 PM ET update 07 Feb 2024

Lawyers for Donald Trump and the New York attorney general's office both told the judge Wednesday in his civil fraud trial he shouldn't delay ruling in the case because of reports a witness possibly committed perjury while testifying.

 

Government lawyers handling the civil case said they were unaware of any plea negotiations between Trump's former chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, as reported in the The New York Times.

 

“At this time, we are not involved in any negotiations and are unaware of what specific trial testimony may be the subject of the plea negotiations or whether Mr. Weisselberg has conceded that he testified falsely,” wrote Kevin Wallace, senior enforcement counsel for the attorney general's office.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/02/07/donald-trump-fraud-trial-witness-possible-perjury/72507168007/

Trump's lawyers asking a judge to hurry up! 

That's unusual!

[jerrymahoney]

22 minutes ago, candide said:

Trump's lawyers asking a judge to hurry up! 

That's unusual!

This is from the Engoron letter sent to all attorneys including Trump's Kise and Habba.

 

I wonder which one responded?

[still kicking]

On 2/7/2024 at 6:31 AM, steven100 said:

 

we can only hope soooooo  ........    I'm sick & tired of his picture and name in the news 10 times on Yahoo webpage.

I hope he gets locked up and that's the last we hear of him .... 

 

Biden is old so he's not much of a choice either ....

 

The US is in serious need of a young President with enough intelligence to run the country.

 

 

Thailand serious need of a young President with enough intelligence to run the country. Here you have it.

[LS24]

On 2/8/2024 at 11:11 AM, LS24 said:

The link that I posted yesterday makes like of some quite stern rules in NY state about anyone attempting to appeal what most are expecting Judge Engoran to hand down.

 

Apparently if found guilty, Trump will need to stump up the full amount of the ruling + 9% PA interest compounded since the case was opened back in 2016 just to attempt an appeal. That is a whole lot of coin.

 

The article also makes the point that no bond agent or financial institution would likely touch Trump because if he were to win presidency, he could simply ignore any repayments to bond agency or financial institutions and they would have no recourse for a sitting president.

 

If Engoron freezes assets as part of a ruling, then Trump couldn't liquidate real estate to raise funds. It will be interesting to see if some Russians or Arabs with deep pockets come to bail out Trump. Now that would be interesting.

 

New York may just have pinned this grifter for good this time.

Above was correct in that Trump will need to pay between 110%-120% of the total before a an appeal can be lodged.

 

Let's see who stands up to offer Trump the funds. That will be very telling.

 

 

[Mutt Daeng]

2 hours ago, LS24 said:

Above was correct in that Trump will need to pay between 110%-120% of the total before a an appeal can be lodged.

 

Let's see who stands up to offer Trump the funds. That will be very telling.

 

 

Be interesting to see if his son-in-law uses any of the $2Bn he "earned" from the Saudis to help the cause.

[Chomper Higgot]

Slapped with an extra 5 months in the slammer:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/10/allen-weisselberg-sentenced-perjury-trump-fraud-trial?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other