Donald Trump’s Right-Hand Man May Be Helping Him From Prison

The judge in Donald Trump’s hush-money case may tell the jury about the absence of the Trump Organization’s former chief financial officer, an attorney has said.

During the trial, Judge Juan Merchan asked prosecutors and Trump’s lawyers why Allen Weisselberg, a witness for the prosecution, had not given evidence.

In March, Weisselberg pleaded guilty to two counts of perjury after saying he lied while being questioned by the New York Attorney General’s Office in 2020. He was later sentenced to five months in Rikers Island.

Weisselberg may be helping Trump from the New York prison as his absence has been a boost for the former president’s defense, and he did not confirm the evidence given by Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer.

Colleen Kerwick, an attorney in New York, said Merchan would likely tell the jury about Weisselberg’s absence, as the former CFO was mentioned throughout the trial. She added that Weisselberg’s absence was a significant factor in the case.

“There is likely to be a Missing Witness Charge on Weisselberg. If the missing witness charge is given, the jury is allowed to infer that the uncalled witness’ testimony would not have supported the party who failed to call them—in this case, the prosecution, who have the burden of proof,” Kerwick said.

Last month, Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, became the first former president in U.S. history to stand trial in a criminal case. He was indicted in March 2023, following an investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money Cohen paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Daniels alleges she had an affair with Trump in 2006, which he has denied. The former president has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has said the case against him is politically motivated.

During the hush-money trial, Trump’s legal team told Merchan that Weisselberg should have been called.

“Has anyone attempted to get him to come in?” the judge asked.

Both prosecutors and Trump’s lawyers said there had been no attempt to bring Weisselberg to court.

Monday, The New York Times published an investigation into Weisselberg’s absence, describing the former CFO as “a company man who had a hand in some of Mr. Trump’s shadiest dealings.”

“He could have traded his knowledge for his freedom,” the report continued, “but kept his mouth shut, choosing loyalty and lucre—he signed a multimillion-dollar severance deal—over liberty.”