Who is Allen Weisselberg? Trump CFO whose life 'revolves' around ex-POTUS faces probe after DA couldn't flip him
The New York State Attorney-General's Office has launched a criminal probe into Allen Weisselberg, the longtime CFO of the Trump Organization and a known aide of former President Donald Trump. According to Daily Mail, the decision for the criminal tax probe on Weisselberg comes shortly after the Manhattan district attorney's office announced a criminal investigation of the organization — to find whether Trump's company falsely reported property values. The alleged false reporting might have helped them secure loans as well as obtain tax benefits. New York A-G Letitia James' office also declared to join the Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr's office in the investigation.
Earlier, New York prosecutors reportedly tried to 'flip' Weisselberg against Donald Trump. They investigated whether Trump had actually paid Weisselberg's grandkids' school tuition fees worth $500,000 and thereby evaded tax. The Manhattan DA's office even subpoenaed the Upper West Side-based private institution Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School for the probe. The prosecutors are also looking into the tuition fees paid between 2012 and 2019 at the $50,000 term school, to ascertain if any tax laws were violated by Weisselberg. In fact, his former daughter-in-law Jennifer Weisselberg, who is also the mother of his two grandchildren studying at the school, has turned witness in the investigation.
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Who is Allen Weisselberg?
Allen Weisselberg is believed to be one of the closest confidants of Donald Trump, who had been associated with the Trump Organization for decades. He was entrusted to run the family firm together with Donald Trump Jr. The DA's office has tried for months to turn Weisselberg against Trump, by using allegations of wrongdoing against him, but to little avail.
In March 2021, it was revealed by Jennifer Weisselberg that Donald Trump had attended a shiva at Allen Weisselberg's house in Long Island, where he showed guests photos of naked women with him on a yacht. He also passed condescending comments about his home. "Trump showed up in a limousine and blurted out, 'This is where my CFO lives? It's embarrassing!" Jennifer recalled. She also added that Trump had started flirting with her at the shiva, which was not protested, rather humored by her father-in-law.
She further revealed to prosecutors that Allen Weisselberg's life 'revolved' around Trump. "His whole worth is 'Does Donald like me today?' It's his whole life, his core being. He's obsessed. He has more feelings and adoration for Donald than for his wife," she remarked. It is believed that turning Allen Weisselberg against Trump would provide deeper insights into the Trump Organization's finances. It will also increase the chances of Trump or any member of his family to face criminal charges.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has dubbed the probe as another 'Democrat witch hunt' against him. "There is nothing more corrupt than an investigation that is in desperate search of a crime. But, make no mistake, that is exactly what is happening here," he stated.
