NEW YORK (Dagbladet): Weisselberg, who has worked for the Trump families since 1973, was sentenced to five months in prison for tax evasion of work checks worth $1.7 million (about 17 million kroner).
During Tuesday’s sentencing, the judge, Juan Manuel Merchan Allen Weisselberg, expressed regret for accepting such a low sentence.
– If I hadn’t already promised Weisselberg five months, I would have imposed a much more severe punishment than that. But I won’t budge from that promise, though I believe a harsher sentence would be appropriate after hearing the evidence, Merchan says in court in Manhattan, according to ap.
Health problems
Weisselberg was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs and transported to New York’s notorious Rikers Island Jail. He can be released as early as three months. He’s also agreed to a penalty settlement, which means he’s already paid $2 million in back taxes, interest and penalties.
Weisselberg’s defense attorney Nicholas Gravante has demanded that Trump’s associate receive an even lighter sentence, not least because his health is “far from perfect.”
Fake Trump card
– He has already been punished enormously by the dishonor he brought upon himself, his wife, children and grandchildren, said Gravante.
Weisselberg initially faced up to 15 years in prison. But then he made an agreement that also meant that he had to testify against the Trump organization.
– Fears only one person
So far, Weisselberg is the only person charged in the three-year investigation into the former presidents’ business activities in New York.
– Personal greed
Weisselberg himself said he betrayed the trust of the Trump family by evading the benefits on his tax return. Perks included a free luxury apartment, car and tuition for the grandchildren.
Weisselberg claims that neither Donald Trump nor other members of the organization knew about the tax evasion.
– It was my personal greed that led to this, Weisselberg said in court.
However, the indictment believes that the former president was well aware of the situation and that Weisselberg is loyal to the family he has worked for for nearly fifty years.
Trump “knew exactly what was going on,” prosecutors said in court, presenting as evidence a lease he signed for Weisselberg’s apartment.
– He wanted to fire him
– Makes it clear that Trump explicitly agreed to tax fraud, prosecutors said.
On Friday, the Trump Organization will also be convicted in the case. He faces a company fine of up to US$1.6 million (approximately NOK 16 million).
– Byzantine, black hole
Weisselberg’s stay on Rikers Island will be something very different from the life of luxury he’s used to in Manhattan. The prison, located on an island in the East River, is notorious for violence, drugs and corruption. In 2022 alone, 19 prisoners died.
New smell
– You enter a Byzantine black hole, says prison consultant Craig Rothfeld, who helped Weisselberg prepare for his prison stay Reuters.
In addition to the criminal case against the Trump Organization, New York Attorney General Letitia James is also suing the former president for $250 million for illegal business practices. At the center of the lawsuit are both Trump himself, three of his children, Ivanka, Eric and Donald junior, and Weisselberg.
The lawsuit could effectively destroy the Trump family’s ability to do business in New York. A legal hearing is expected in the case in October, he said Washington Post.
Trump has always denied that he did anything wrong. He has already announced he wants to be the Republican presidential candidate in 2024 and claims he is the victim of a political witch hunt by Letitia James, who is a Democrat.
