Allen Weisselberg, former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, has been released from incarceration after serving a shortened term.
According to Forbes, originally sentenced to a five-month term for making false statements under oath, Weisselberg was granted early release after 100 days due to commendable behavior.
Weisselberg, aged 76, was incarcerated at Rikers Island, New York, serving his sentence for perjury related to misleading statements he made concerning the size of a Manhattan penthouse owned by former President Donald Trump.
His release on good behavior marks a significant turn in a series of legal battles involving high-ranking officials of the Trump Organization.
In March, Weisselberg accepted a plea deal in state court, admitting to two counts of perjury. His original charges included five counts, which were related to his testimony during a 2020 deposition about the Trump penthouse’s size, a key matter in a larger fraud trial involving Donald Trump.
During his deposition in April 2020, Weisselberg’s statements came under scrutiny when he denied knowledge of the overstated size of the penthouse, contradicting previous communications. Forbes had reported in 2017 that Trump inflated the size of his penthouse, a claim supported by emails exchanged between Weisselberg and Forbes journalists.
The criminal charges were later adjusted under a plea agreement following Weisselberg's additional misleading claims during another fraud trial in October. This case was part of a broader lawsuit by the New York Attorney General accusing Trump and his associates of asset value manipulation for personal gain.
This is not the first time Weisselberg has faced legal repercussions. He previously completed another 100 days for criminal tax fraud involving $1.76 million in unreported compensation from the Trump Organization.
The ramifications of these legal battles were severe. Judge Arthur Engoron, who presided over the fraud lawsuit, imposed a $1 million penalty on Weisselberg and issued a prohibition against him holding any financial position in companies based in New York.
This decision underscored the gravity of the fraudulent activities linked to asset misstatements, including the misrepresented penthouse size.
Weisselberg's attorney, Seth Rosenberg, emphasized his client’s acceptance of responsibility and desire to move forward. The following statement was made by Rosenberg, "Allen Weisselberg accepted responsibility for his conduct and now looks forward to the end of this life-altering experience and to returning to his family and his retirement."
The series of events leading up to Weisselberg's release began with his misleading deposition in April 2020, followed by a guilty plea to reduced charges in March 2024, and subsequent imprisonment starting in April 2024. His early release this July marks the end of a turbulent chapter for the former CFO.
Allen Weisselberg's early release from jail reflects not only his legal battles but also broader controversies surrounding the Trump Organization. His cases highlight significant legal interpretations of misbehavior by corporate executives and serve as a cautionary tale for financial governance and legal accountability in corporate America. Despite the end of his jail term, Weisselberg's professional limitations signify lasting repercussions from his actions.
