Ex-Wife Of Weisselberg’s Son Has Spoken With Investigators ‘Multiple Times’

(FILES) In this file photo taken on January 11, 2017, US President-elect Donald Trump along with his children Eric (L) Ivanka and Donald Jr.(R) arrive for a press conference at Trump Tower in New York, accompanied by... (FILES) In this file photo taken on January 11, 2017, US President-elect Donald Trump along with his children Eric (L) Ivanka and Donald Jr.(R) arrive for a press conference at Trump Tower in New York, accompanied by Allen Weisselberg (2nd R), chief financial officer of The Trump Organization. - As US President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen delivered hours of riveting testimony to a US House committee on February 27, 2019, one name came up again and again: Allen Weisselberg. Weisselberg, 71, is the publicity-shy chief financial officer of the Trump Organization and one of the real estate tycoon's oldest and closest advisors. (Photo by Timothy A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

The ex-wife of a Trump Organization executive told NBC News that she has spoken “multiple times” with investigators from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, as a criminal probe into former President Donald Trump and his company looks into longtime Trump Org CFO Allen Weisselberg.

Barry Weisselberg’s ex-wife, Jennifer, is the latest to come forward to discuss efforts by investigators to dig into the personal dealings of her ex-husband and his father, Allen Weisselberg, who has served as the Trump Organization’s chief financial officer for decades. Longtime Trump attorney Michael Cohen also recently met with Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vane’s office for an eighth time, and told the Washington Post that the investigation amounts to a “proctological exam of the highest order.”

Allen Weisselberg’s deep knowledge of the Trump Organization’s financial dealings could be particularly valuable to investigators in a far-reaching probe that has explored Trump and his company for possible bank and tax fraud.

The New York Times and the Washington Post have reported in recent weeks that the Manhattan DA’s effort was likely part of a broader plan to examine whether or not investigators would be able to flip Allen Weisselberg as a witness against Trump.

The district attorney’s office has not accused Allen Weisselberg or his sons of any wrongdoing, but questioning led by recently recruited prosecutor Mark Pomerantz, an expert in white-collar crime, could create pressure to win cooperation from the Weisselbergs if prosecutors find any evidence of wrongdoing that is traced back to them.

Jennifer Weisselberg told NBC News in an interview that she has turned over documents to the Manhattan DA’s office.

“He discusses everything with him,” she said of her ex-husband’s relationship with his father, Allen Weisselberg. “And Donald trusts him to continue the legacy the way his father set things up.”

Jennifer Weisselberg was married to Barry Weisselberg for 14 years before a difficult divorce in 2018, when she lost custody of their two children. Her ongoing battle with her ex-husband in court could raise questions about her credibility as a source about her former spouse, who has been a longtime manager of the Trump-run ice rink in Central Park. 

Vance’s office reached out to Jennifer Weisselberg after a Bloomberg News report revealed, with the help of her documentation, that the Central Park apartment where the couple lived for several years had been provided by the Trump Organization rent-free. That arrangement may not have been properly accounted for in taxes. 

Jennifer Weisselberg told NBC News that the now-sold apartment had been provided rent-free as a wedding gift around the time the couple got married in 2004, adding that she and her then-husband only paid for utilities. In divorce proceedings, her former husband described the apartment as a corporate property. 

She told the New Yorker in a report last week that when someone works for the Trump Organization, “only a small part of your salary is reported.”

“They pay you with apartments and other stuff, as a control tactic, so you can’t leave,” she said at the time. “They own you! You have to do whatever corrupt crap they ask.”

She reiterated her assessment of the effort to assure loyalty to NBC News saying, “it’s not easy to walk away when they provide your home.”

Allen Weisselberg, she added, defined his worth by what Trump “thinks about him, about saving him money regardless.”

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. The bus is in the parking lot. How can Dumpf underbus Weaselberg? Better question might be who goes under first?

  2. OT. “Rootin’ fer Pootin. LOL!

  3. Avatar for 1gg 1gg says:

    Don’t forget Roger Stone, Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley.

  4. My money is on Drumpf getting skidmarks first because Weisselberg is way smarter than Drumpf.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

289 more replies

Participants

Avatar for bobatkinson Avatar for cervantes Avatar for rollinnolan Avatar for sniffit Avatar for sparrowhawk Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for lastroth Avatar for pine Avatar for pshah Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for tena Avatar for southerndem Avatar for Anarchy_Bunker Avatar for castor_troy Avatar for brian512 Avatar for rhs1963 Avatar for karlwlewis Avatar for txlawyer Avatar for staggerlee Avatar for Thane Avatar for Hatmama Avatar for LeeHarveyGriswold Avatar for iafixture Avatar for Stay-on-Target

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: