Manhattan DA Presses Ex-Trump Org CFO To Snitch On Trump As Part Of Hush Money Probe

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Former CFO Allen Weisselberg leaves the courtroom for a lunch recess during a trial at the New York Supreme Court on November 17, 2022 in New York City. The Trump Organization is cha... NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Former CFO Allen Weisselberg leaves the courtroom for a lunch recess during a trial at the New York Supreme Court on November 17, 2022 in New York City. The Trump Organization is charged with criminal tax fraud, falsifying business records, and filing false tax returns in a scheme to defraud the state. Former CFO Weisselberg, who is on his second day of testimony, has pleaded guilty to 15 criminal charges as part of the probe and is expected to testify against his former employer. The case is unrelated to the civil case being brought by NY Attorney General Letitia James against the Trump Organization. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has reportedly begun to pressure former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg to flip on Trump as part of his escalating investigation into the former president’s hush money payments to an adult film star during his 2016 campaign.

According to Bloomberg, prosecutors from the DA’s office have threatened Weisselberg, who’s already serving five months in jail for Trump Org tax fraud, with additional charges unless he cooperates with their probe.

Bragg was initially hesitant to pursue an indictment against Trump when he took over as Manhattan DA, due to what he considered to be insufficient evidence. 

But then, this past November, the New York Times reported that the district attorney was reexamining hush money payments former Trump advisor Michael Cohen made to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about her alleged affair with the former president. In December, Bragg hired a new senior counsel, signaling that the office might be taking another look at Trump and his business practices.

We’re now seeing more movement on these fronts: CNN reported on Thursday that Trump Org controller Jeffrey McConney was set to testify before a New York grand jury about the hush money payments.

The district attorney’s office has also revisited Cohen, who was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in the hush money payments back in 2018. Cohen told CNN that he was interviewed for two and a half hours by investigators who also wanted access to his phone.

“Most recently, they asked for my cell phones because they want to be able to extract from it the voice recordings that I had had with Keith Davidson, former attorney to Stormy Daniels before Michael Avenatti,” he said, “as well as a bunch of emails, test messages and so on, that way it could be used as evidence if in fact they proceed forward, which I suspect they are.”

On Monday, the Times reported that Bragg’s office had begun sharing evidence with a grand jury about the payments, potentially laying the groundwork for criminal charges against Trump down the line. The Times spotted David Pecker, former publisher of The National Enquirer, entering a Lower Manhattan building where the jury was convened with his lawyer. The Enquirer reportedly played a role in brokering the deal with Stormy Daniels.

Bragg’s office has also reportedly started contacting staffers from Trump’s 2016 campaign.

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  1. Meanwhile, a related Beast exclusive.

    Excerpts:

    Former President Donald Trump’s family company—notorious for stiffing contractors and dodging bills—has paid the $1.6 million fine it received for its tax fraud conviction in December.

    The New York County Clerk received the payment in two separate checks on Jan. 24, according to a clerk who confirmed matter-of-factly that the checks didn’t bounce.

    The Trump Organization remains in hot water. New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit to kill the corporation and seize its assets for defrauding banks, a case that’s set for trial in October.

  2. Bragg screwed this up as soon as he got in office. Now he’s trying to make up for his pussyfooting by finding a patsy. Good luck with that, especially after losing the two top prosecutors who could’ve brought this case, probably successfully.

  3. Obviously TMFWWNBN’s check didn’t arrive on time, or bounced, so Bragg now has to pretend to do something.

  4. pressure former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg to flip on Trump

    If I’m Weisselberg the response would be be two-fold:

    1. Talk to the hand: you made a deal and I’m doing my time. No backsies.
    2. Fuck off.

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