Manhattan prosecutor makes BRILLIANT move to SHUT DOWN Trump
Summary
TLDRThe Manhattan District Attorney's strategic move to prosecute Alan Weisselberg, Donald Trump's CFO, for a second time, effectively neutralizes him as a credible defense witness in Trump's upcoming criminal trial. Weisselberg's conviction for perjury, along with his prior involvement in a 15-year fraud scheme, undermines his credibility and prevents him from bolstering Trump's defense. This development highlights the importance of witness credibility and the prosecution's ability to corroborate Michael Cohen's testimony, which is critical to the case.
Takeaways
- ๐๏ธ The Manhattan District Attorney's office has made a strategic move by prosecuting Alan Weisselberg, Trump's former CFO, for a second time, aiming to neutralize his potential defense testimony in Trump's upcoming criminal trial.
- ๐ Weisselberg was previously convicted for his role in a 15-year-long tax fraud scheme involving the Trump Organization and served time in Rikers Island.
- ๐ซ Despite his initial conviction, Weisselberg did not cooperate with authorities against Trump, instead choosing to lie under oath in the New York fraud trial, further damaging his credibility.
- ๐จโโ๏ธ The prosecution's decision to charge Weisselberg with perjury is seen as a two-pronged strategy: holding him accountable for lying under oath and preventing him from being a credible defense witness for Trump.
- ๐คต Alan Weisselberg's refusal to testify against Trump, despite the potential benefits of cooperation, highlights his loyalty and presents a challenge for the prosecution's case.
- ๐ Michael Cohen, another former Trump associate, is a key witness in the case, and his testimony is supported by corroborating evidence, including checks Trump allegedly wrote from the Oval Office.
- ๐๏ธ The case against Trump involves financial fraud claims and the payment of hush money, with Weisselberg's prior testimony and perjury charges directly related to these matters.
- ๐ The trial is expected to start on April 15th, and there is anticipation over how the various witness testimonies and evidence will play out.
- โ๏ธ The concept of presidential immunity is discussed, with the argument that Trump's actions, even if they occurred while he was a candidate, do not qualify for such immunity.
- ๐ The discussion underscores the complexity and high stakes of the legal proceedings, with the potential to significantly impact public perception and legal outcomes.
Q & A
What is the significance of the Manhattan DA's decision to prosecute Alan Weisselberg a second time?
-The Manhattan DA's decision to prosecute Alan Weisselberg a second time is strategic as it aims to neutralize him as a credible defense witness in Donald Trump's upcoming criminal trial. By having Weisselberg convicted a second time for perjury, his credibility is severely damaged, making it difficult for Trump's defense to use him to counter Michael Cohen's testimony.
What was the nature of the first prosecution against the Trump Organization and Alan Weisselberg?
-The first prosecution against the Trump Organization and Alan Weisselberg was for involvement in a 15-year-long criminal scheme to defraud in the first degree. Weisselberg pleaded guilty and was convicted based on his guilty plea, serving a sentence at Rikers Island.
Why did Alan Weisselberg return to Rikers Island?
-Alan Weisselberg returned to Rikers Island because he was prosecuted a second time by District Attorney Alvin Bragg for committing perjury during Donald Trump's New York fraud trial.
How did Alan Weisselberg's perjury impact the potential defense strategy in Donald Trump's trial?
-Weisselberg's perjury negatively impacted the potential defense strategy by diminishing his credibility as a witness. His status as a two-time convicted felon and proven perjurer would make it challenging for Trump's lawyers to effectively call upon him to refute Michael Cohen's testimony.
What was the role of Michael Cohen in the Trump Organization's case?
-Michael Cohen was a key witness in the case against the Trump Organization. He claimed that Trump directed him to make financial arrangements with Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign, and that Trump reimbursed him for these payments from the Oval Office after his election as President.
How does the prosecution plan to support Michael Cohen's testimony?
-The prosecution plans to support Michael Cohen's testimony through hard corroboration, including evidence that Cohen made payments at Trump's direction and that Trump reimbursed him with checks written from the Oval Office, thereby showing a clear connection between the payments and Trump's actions.
What is the relevance of the timing of the reimbursement checks in the context of presidential immunity?
-The timing of the reimbursement checks is relevant because it could potentially impact the argument around presidential immunity. If the checks were written while Trump was President, it might be argued that they were part of his official duties. However, experts suggest that such payments would not qualify as official acts and thus would not be protected by presidential immunity.
What is the current status of the presidential immunity argument in the courts?
-As of the time of the transcript, the issue of presidential immunity is currently being considered by the Supreme Court. There is no precedent for presidential immunity against prosecution, and it is unclear how the court will rule on this matter.
What was Weisselberg's role in the civil fraud trial related to financial claims made last year?
-In the civil fraud trial, Weisselberg admitted to perjury by lying about his knowledge of the valuation of Donald Trump's Penthouse in Midtown Manhattan. As part of a plea agreement, he did not have to commit to testifying in the hush money payment case.
What is the potential sentence for Weisselberg's perjury conviction?
-Weisselberg could potentially be sentenced to up to 5 months in prison for his perjury conviction.
How does Weisselberg's loyalty to Trump affect his role as a witness?
-Weisselberg's loyalty to Trump makes him a challenging witness for the prosecution because he has not agreed to testify against Trump. Instead, he has chosen to go to jail at the age of 77 rather than provide truthful testimony against his former boss.
What is the expected start date for Donald Trump's criminal trial?
-The criminal trial for Donald Trump is expected to start on Monday, April 15th.
Outlines
๐ Prosecution Strategy and Weisselberg's Conviction
This paragraph discusses the strategic move by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in prosecuting Donald Trump's former Chief Financial Officer, Alan Weisselberg, for a second time. Weisselberg's initial conviction was for involvement in a 15-year-long criminal tax fraud scheme within the Trump organization. Despite serving 100 days of his five-month sentence, Weisselberg was called as a witness in Trump's fraud trial, where he perjured himself in an attempt to aid Trump. The paragraph highlights the implications of Weisselberg's perjury conviction on his credibility as a potential witness in Trump's upcoming trial, emphasizing that his second conviction has effectively neutralized him as a credible defense witness due to his status as a two-time felon and proven perjurer.
๐ค The Impact of Weisselberg's Loyalty on Testimonyๅฏไฟกๅบฆ
This paragraph delves into the challenges faced by the prosecution in the absence of Alan Weisselberg's testimony against Donald Trump. Despite Weisselberg's loyalty to Trump, demonstrated by his refusal to testify against him, the paragraph discusses the corroborating evidence supporting Michael Cohen's testimony. It mentions the reimbursement checks written by Trump from the Oval Office, which undermine any potential claim of presidential immunity for the crimes committed. The paragraph concludes by highlighting the significance of the upcoming trial, which is expected to start on April 15th, and encourages viewers to follow the case for updates.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กStrategic move
๐กCriminal trial
๐กAlvin Bragg
๐กPerjury
๐กCredibility
๐กPlea agreement
๐กTrump organization
๐กMichael Cohen
๐กPresidential immunity
๐กHush money payment case
๐กCorroboration
Highlights
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's strategic move to neutralize Trump ahead of his criminal trial in New York.
The first criminal trial that Trump will be contending with, involving his longtime CFO, Alan Weisselberg.
Weisselberg's prosecution for being involved in a 15-year-long criminal scheme to defraud in the first degree.
Weisselberg's guilty plea and subsequent conviction for his role in the fraud scheme.
Weisselberg's return to Rikers Island jail after being prosecuted a second time by DA Alvin Bragg.
Weisselberg's refusal to testify against Trump and his commitment to stand by his boss despite the legal consequences.
The prosecution's challenge of not being able to call Weisselberg as a witness due to his established dishonesty.
The potential impact of Weisselberg's perjury on Trump's trial, as it undermines his credibility as a defense witness.
The strategic advantage for the prosecution in having Weisselberg convicted of perjury, effectively neutralizing his testimony.
The significance of Weisselberg's perjury prosecution as a 'Justice twofer', holding him accountable and preventing his credible defense testimony.
The potential sentencing of Weisselberg up to 5 months in prison for his perjury, without testifying against Trump in the hush money payment case.
The corroboration of Michael Cohen's testimony through Trump's reimbursement checks written from the Oval Office.
The discussion on the non-existence of presidential immunity in the context of Trump's case, specifically regarding the reimbursement checks.
The anticipation of the trial starting on April 15th and the public's ability to follow along through subscription to the channels.
The unique legal situation of a former president facing criminal charges and the implications for the legal system and future cases.
The importance of the trial in setting a precedent for holding powerful figures accountable for financial fraud and campaign violations.
The role of character and loyalty in witness testimony, as exemplified by Weisselberg's unwavering support for Trump despite legal risks.
Transcripts
you're watching the legal breakdown so
Glenn you're calling this a strategic
move by the Manhattan da to neutralize
Trump ahead of his criminal trial in New
York that's the first criminal trial
that he'll be contending with can you
speak on what uh Manhattan da Alvin
Bragg just did yeah so this makes me
long for my trial days there's so much
strategy Brian that goes into the
prosecution not only preparing its case
but trying to defeat the defendant's
case even in advance of trial so here's
what just happened Donald Trump's
longtime Chief Financial Officer CFO
Alan weisselberg was sent back to Riker
Island back to jail on Wednesday why
because he was prosecuted a second time
by district attorney Alvin Bragg you may
remember the first time was when the
Trump organization was being prosecuted
for being involved in a 15-year-long
criminal scheme to defraud in the first
degree as part of that investigation
Alan weisselberg pleaded guilty to being
involved in that 15-year-long criminal
scheme to defraud and he was convicted
pursuant to his guilty plea and he was
sent to Riker's Island where he was to
serve a five Monon sentence he got out
uh I think at a 100 days for um some
credit for good time but you would think
that would make Alan weiselberg learn
his lesson but no Alan weiselberg
finished up that that sentence he then
was called as a witness at Donald
Trump's New York fraud trial and he lied
he committed perjury lied under oath
which um in part had the the impact of
trying to help Donald Trump get away
with some of his fraud now Alan
weiselberg has never flipped on Donald
Trump he has never been willing to talk
about or testify about the crimes of his
boss and benefactor actor Donald Trump
right so the prosecution can't possibly
put Alan weiselberg on the stand to say
anything about this conversation with
Michael Cohen because he's a great big
liar right however the defense could
call Alan weiselberg to say wait a
minute I never had that conversation
with Michael Cohen in an effort to knock
down one of the star Witnesses Michael
Cohen but now Alan weiselberg is in
Rikers so if Alan weberg proven a proven
perjurer he's going to be sitting there
in a prison jumpsuit what absolutely and
mind you Brian I've called Witnesses in
prison jumpsuits quite often when they
were cooperating Witnesses they were
serving time for what they did they
flipped and they agreed to testify
truthfully and I could corroborate the
truth and accuracy of their testimony
that's the only way I would call them
but now let Donald Trump's lawyers try
to call Alan weisselberg to help Donald
Trump out he'll be coming over from
Rikers in a jumpsuit Plus he's now a
two-time convicted felon once for you
know committing all kinds of crimes as
the CFO for the Trump organization but
even more importantly lying at Donald
Trump's prior fraud trial trying to help
him out so if people will excuse my
indelicate language just this once Alan
weisselberg credibility is lower than
whale it doesn't get any lower
right so I I see this whole perjury
prosecution as a bit of a Justice twofer
it's great that he's being held
accountable for the perjury that he
engaged in but it's also good because he
has been neutralized and he can't
possibly now be called as a credible
defense witness at Donald Trump's trial
Alan weiselberg is such a striking
figure in all of this but to dat he has
still yet to testify against Donald
Trump and that is what makes him so
striking he already spent 100 days at
the Rikers Island jail complex in part
of the tax scheme in which he took uh
perks from the Trump organization and
during that trial he testified against
the Trump organization but not Donald
Trump now fast forward this has
everything to do with his testimony
related to the Civil fraud trial over
the repeated financial fraud claims that
were made last year and what he has
already admitted to the court is is that
he perjured himself by lying about the
extent to what what he knew about the
value ation of Donald Trump's Penthouse
here in Midtown Manhattan and so we are
looking at him being potentially
sentenced up to 5 months in prison but
as part of this plea agreement he did
not have to commit to testifying in the
hush money payment case so again we see
Alan weiselberg this key figure for more
than 50 years to the Trump organization
not directly testifying against Donald
Trump yet at the same time you go back
and you're talking about Michael Cohen
Michael Cohen says the one other person
that heard Donald Trump directly tell
him in 2016 to go and set up that uh
Financial arrangement with Stormy
Daniels was Alan weiselberg and so part
of the struggle with the trial is if you
don't have Alan weiselberg agreeing to
testify and instead going out to Riker's
Jail at the age of 77 years old that is
a difficult witness here in somebody who
is clearly agreeing to stand on the side
of his old boss and willing to go to
jail instead of truthfully testifying
against him and so now basically the
jury will have to rely on Michael
Cohen's testimony without any what would
be an inevitable rebuttal by Alan
weiselberg who has proven that he's
always willing to back up Donald Trump
no matter the cost exactly and the
prosecutors have so much corroboration
supporting and affirming evidence that
will show Michael Cohen to be a truth
tell for example Michael Cohen made
these payments at the direction of and
for the benefit of Donald Trump and then
what did Donald Trump do he started
writing Michael Cohen reimbursement
checks to pay him back and in fact he
was writing those checks out of the Oval
Office after he was elected as president
so there's lots of Hard corroboration
that will enable the jury to credit
Michael Cohen's testimony because it
will be supported in a number of ways
now just one one quick side note here I
know that we had spoken about the
prospect of trump attempting to delay
this trial by invoking Presidential
immunity that's obviously what happened
in the DC prosecution and it's what
they're seeking to have happen here in
the Manhattan trial as well would the
fact that he was writing these
reimbursement checks from the Oval
Office be enough of a predicate to be
able to have presidential immunity apply
because the bulk of this crime actually
committed was committed while he was a
candidate for office not president but
if he was writing these reimbursement
checks while he was President then does
that give him enough of a predicate to
be able to to basically invoke
presidential immunity it gives him less
than zero and here's why first of all
presidential immunity against prosecut
is not a thing no court has ever said it
actually exists we understand the
Supreme Court has that issue in their
hot little hands now but in the unlikely
event they say there is some minimal
presidential immunity kind of around the
edges at the outer perimeter of a
president's official acts there's no way
that writing reimbursement checks for
these hush money payments that were
designed in the first instance to gain
unfair advantage in a presidential
election those would not be official
acts of a president not at the Outer
Perimeter not at the inner perimeter
nowhere so you know what presidential
immunity one way or the other regardless
of what the Supreme Court might say
these acts would not qualify all right
well I mean it really is a sign of the
times that this is a question we're
asking whether whether a non-existent
premise of president immunity to cover a
president from criminal activity would
count if he was writing his own
reimbursement checks for campaign
violations from the Oval Office I mean
it is just Insanity on top of insanity
and yet thanks to Donald Trump here we
are uh with that said uh we will follow
along with this case as it continues to
progress and hopefully ends up in trial
starting on Monday April 15th as it's
expected to do so for those watching
right now if you want to follow along
please make sure to subscribe the links
to both of our channels are right here
on the screen I'm Brian teller Cohen and
I'm Glenn kersner you're watching the
legal breakdown
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