Former Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg is set to be sentenced to five months in jail for lying under oath in Donald Trump's New York civil fraud case. This will be Weisselberg's second time behind bars, following a 100-day sentence last year for tax evasion.
Weisselberg, who has been a loyal employee of the Trump family for nearly 50 years, admitted to lying about his knowledge of how Trump's Manhattan penthouse was valued on financial statements. Despite testifying twice in trials unfavorable to Trump, Weisselberg's plea agreement does not require him to testify in Trump's upcoming hush money criminal trial.
Prosecutors cited Weisselberg's age and willingness to admit wrongdoing in agreeing to the five-month sentence. They also promised not to prosecute him for other potential crimes related to his Trump Organization employment.
Trump's lawyers criticized Weisselberg's prosecution, accusing the Manhattan district attorney's office of unfair tactics. Weisselberg pleaded guilty to perjury charges related to his testimony in a lawsuit against Trump, where the size of Trump's penthouse was a key issue.
The civil fraud trial concluded with a ruling that Trump and his executives had deceived banks and insurers by inflating Trump's wealth on financial statements. Judge Arthur Engoron found Weisselberg's testimony to be evasive and unreliable.
Weisselberg is expected to play a role in Trump's hush-money trial, despite being in jail during the proceedings. Trump is accused of falsifying records to cover up payments during his 2016 campaign, with Cohen implicating Weisselberg in orchestrating the payments.
