Your comment adds a bit more rationality to this picture. If that is the case, what you describe is a more sensible outcome that helps the state more than just locking up one old man. The “big picture” approach always gravitates toward taking down Trump and his rotten organization.
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Some observations:
Weisselberg loses the ability to claim 5th amendment protection only if he is completely protected from any criminal prosecution that might be aided by his testimony. His conviction on these charges doesn’t necessarily do that.
If the prosecutors want to force him to testify and are willing to give up any future charges, they should be able to ask the court to give him “use immunity” for his testimony. (I think NY permits use immunity in addition to transactional immunity – someone else may know better.)
So… the plan here may be to get at least some kind of conviction first, then jam him with use immunity. But maybe I’m being too optimistic given DA Bragg’s refusal to prosecute Trump.
Finally, unless they have a plan to force testimony, it’s hard to fathom why prosecutors would want to give Weisselberg a plea if they still plan to prosecute the Trump Organization. One of the big benefits a plea gives a prosecutor – not the only benefit, of course – is relief from a long, difficult trial. There’s no such benefit here unless they plan to dump the case against the Trump Organization (like they apparently did with Trump).
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Weisselberg is expected to be handed a five-month prison sentence as part of the agreement. … will reportedly not cooperate with the Manhattan DA’s investigation into the former president.
No cooperation, and five lousy months??? That’s chickenfeed. The guy profited off this scheme for most of his professional life. The deterrent value of that sentence is somewhere between a wet noodle and the comfy chair.
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After 10 days in prison he’ll develop a medical condition and serve the rest of his “sentence” at home.
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Why, like sheriffs, do we elect DAs on the unjustified assumption that the candidates are qualified experientially, academically and temperamentally for the job?
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Not at all. There can always be other uncharged crimes for which he has liability. There could be federal crimes which remain unresolved.
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Per the fucking article, which if only for the sake of variety some of us do read, he ain’t cooperating or offering shit.
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Huh?
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Remember the Manhattan DA refused to press ahead with the criminal proceedings against Trump with two highly respected attorneys resigning. Cases against those with money and influence so often go unexpectedly limp.
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Does the conviction not expose the organization to all manner of liability? For every loan, contract, sale, purchase, lease, insurance premium, NDA that may have been signed under fraudulent circumstances?
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Light sentence in exchange for no cooperation?
Reminds me of a high school basketball coach talking about his team. “Well, we’re not big, but we’re slow.”
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Trump Org CFO Reaches Plea Deal In Criminal Fraud Probe
alternate headline:
Hardened Career Criminal Uses Wealth, Skin Color, to Evade Justice
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Who’s Tyrone?
Generally speaking this sort of plea deal saves taxpayer money that would otherwise pay the cost of prosecuting. Shave off a bit of time as inducement so prosecutors can work harder on other cases. This is a political and fiduciary decision. So far as I know, it’s not really a legal one except that I believe a judge has to sign off on it
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From a friend’s post on Facebook (who goes by F Braun McAsh, it’s a public post): EDIT: Emphasis added by me.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg have reached a plea deal on the criminal charges that Bragg’s predecessor brought last year. Notably, Weisselberg will plead guilty and do prison time without a cooperation deal.
But here’s the thing…
New York Attorney General Letitia James just finished interviewing Trump in her civil probe into the Trump Organization’s financial fraud, meaning her probe is essentially complete unless she makes any unplanned last minute additions. And now that her probe is wrapping, Weisselberg is suddenly pleading out.
Legal experts have explained that by pleading guilty to these crimes, Weisselberg is forfeiting his Fifth Amendment protections when it comes to these crimes. Which means he will have to testify in any investigation that subpoenas him.
Once Weisselberg’s guilty plea is approved by the judge, James can subpoena Weisselberg to testify in her civil probe.
If he refuses to testify, then he’ll get charged with obstruction. More prison time.
This, incidentally, is a criminal trial separate from the espionage shyte-show, which could very well end in direct charges for tRump and his kiddies. James cannot prefer criminal charges because her suit is civil. But she certainly can recommend them to Bragg.
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No, a light sentence in exchange for a guilty plea that avoids the government having to go through an extended and expensive trial. Happens all the time.
There may be other considerations where they can still try to force testimony in the Trump Org case. But that’s the usual reason for a guilty plea deal.
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Lemme see, Weaselburg defrauded US taxpayers of more than $900,000 in unpaid taxes and will do only five months (30 days for every $180,000) for a crime committed with impunity for 15 years? Makes sense. That’s the same punishment that pretty much anyone else would get. /s
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No. The plea is for the defendant to avoid a trial. The state usually gets something besides crossing a case off the docket.
ETA I have seen hundreds of plea deals.
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I don’t have time for this shit.
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Not necessarily. Risks for both sides in trials, never can be 100% sure that you’re going to get a conviction or an aquittal.
So getting any guilty plea is good for the prosecution, chalk it up as a win.
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