Dive Brief:
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As part of the probe of former President Donald Trump's business, investigators at the Manhattan District Attorney's office are scrutinizing Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, sources told The New York Times Monday.
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The prosecutors are searching for signs of financial fraud, and trying to learn whether the Trump family business "manipulated property values in order to receive loans and reduce property taxes," The Week reported.
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Weisselberg has overseen the Trump Organization's books for more than two decades, beginning work when it was led by Fred Trump, Donald Trump's father.
Dive Insight:
Two people familiar with the matter said prosecutors have been asking witnesses about Weisselberg, and spoke with one person about Weisselberg's sons — Barry, who manages Trump Wollman Rink in Central Park, and Jack, who works at one of Trump's primary lenders, Ladder Capital.
Neither Allen Weisselberg nor his sons have been accused of wrongdoing, the Times reported, adding there is no indication Barry and Jack are the focus of the probe.
The investigation into the Trump Organization began in 2019, when the Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, Jr., looked into hush money payments made to two women who said they had affairs with Trump. Former personal lawyer Michael Cohen arranged the payments and later pleaded guilty to campaign finance charges.
Cohen testified before Congress that Weisselberg devised a strategy to hide that the Trump Organization was reimbursing Cohen for making a $130,000 payment to one of the women, adult actress Stormy Daniels.
The prosecution did not accuse Weisselberg of wrongdoing when charging Cohen. Released from prison, Cohen is currently cooperating with Vance and the Manhattan DA, sources told the Times.
Trump has called Vance's continued probe as a politically motivated "witch hunt" and "fishing expedition," among other things.
During Trump's presidency, Weisselberg, 73, continued running the Trump Organization with Donald Trump, Jr., and Eric Trump, remaining loyal "even when his name surfaced during congressional and federal investigations."
Weisselberg's cooperation could provide the investigation "a significant boost" and could greatly jeopardize Trump, who has "long depended on Weisselberg's unflinching loyalty," the Times said.
