In January 2012, Donald Trump told Barry Weisselberg, then the manager of a Manhattan ice rink owned by the Trump Organization, that he would not be getting a raise. Instead, Trump would pay for his children’s pricey private school tuition.
Trump then turned to Weisselberg’s wife, Jennifer, and said “Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered.”
These details, first published by The Daily Beast, were relayed to Manhattan prosecutors last month by Jennifer Weisselberg, who divorced Barry in 2018. If true, they provide first-person evidence that Trump was directly involved in an illegal scheme; by offering “off the books” perks, both Trump and his employees were able to fraudulently reduce their tax obligations.
Court documents dovetail with Jennifer’s assertions; prosecutors allege that Trump signed personal checks to cover the private school tuition.
Barry entered the Trump orbit by dint of his powerful father, Allen, who was the longtime chief financial officer of the Trump Organization until his arraignment last month. Prosecutors allege that the senior Weisselberg received $1.7 million in untaxed perks including rent and car payments.
Jennifer Weisselberg told Business Insider, “It was like Allen designing a plan. It was like, ‘OK, the way we’re going to maestro this is instead of a raise, we’re going to pay my daughter’s tuition. Instead of a raise, we’re going to pay for the apartment.’
Weisselberg, The Trump Organization, and a subsidiary were charged with conspiracy, criminal tax fraud, scheme to defraud, and falsifying business records. Weisselberg also faces counts related to grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing. Both he and the businesses entities pleaded not guilty.
Trump himself has not been charged, but prosecutors are hoping to pressure Weisselberg to flip on his longtime boss.
After the arraignment last month, NY Attorney General Letitia James releases a statement reading, “This investigation will continue, and we will follow the facts and the law wherever they may lead.”
