In a significant development in the civil fraud trial against former President Donald Trump, Judge Arthur Engoron expressed his consideration of a potential perjury charge against Allen Weisselberg, the former Chief Financial Officer of the Trump Organization. The judge reached out to lawyers representing both Trump and the New York Attorney General's Office, seeking guidance on how to address a recent report by the New York Times. The report stated that Weisselberg is engaged in talks to plead guilty to perjury charges related to his testimony in the civil case.

Weisselberg's testimony in October, during the ongoing civil case in which he is also a defendant, was abruptly cut short after Forbes published an article alleging that he had lied under oath. The magazine had previously reported in 2017 that financial statements had inaccurately described Trump's penthouse apartment in Trump Tower as much larger and more valuable than its actual size and worth. During his testimony, Weisselberg claimed that he had never paid much attention to the valuation of the triplex apartment. However, the Forbes article in October revealed that Weisselberg's past emails to reporters demonstrated his significant involvement in supporting the false valuation of the apartment.

According to the New York Times, Weisselberg has been engaged in negotiations with the Manhattan District Attorney's office to plead guilty to perjury charges, given that his testimony was provided under oath. CBS News confirmed these negotiations through a source familiar with the matter. The spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg declined to comment on the ongoing discussions. It is worth noting that Bragg's office had previously obtained a guilty plea from Weisselberg in connection with a criminal tax fraud case against the Trump Organization, resulting in the organization being found guilty of 17 felony counts in 2022. The office of Letitia James, the New York Attorney General, declined to comment on the matter.

While the focus of the Forbes article was on Weisselberg's testimony concerning the Trump Tower apartment, Judge Engoron emphasized in his letter to the lawyers that if Weisselberg admits to perjury, it could call into question the credibility of his entire hours-long testimony. Engoron has given attorneys until Wednesday at 5 p.m. to submit a letter detailing any relevant information that would not violate their professional ethics or obligations.

This latest development in the trial adds another layer of complexity to the proceedings and raises questions about the veracity of Weisselberg's testimony. As the judge weighs the potential impact of the perjury charge, the outcome of the trial could be significantly influenced, potentially affecting the former president's legal standing. The implications of Weisselberg's negotiations with the Manhattan District Attorney's office and the potential consequences of his guilty plea remain uncertain at this stage.