Florida – Former President Donald Trump is never out of the spotlight. After he was found guilty in the New York case on 34 counts of fraud related to a payment made to Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence in the lead-up to the 2016 election, which Trump won, about an affair they had in 2006, the former president is now facing new “accusations” as new reports suggest that he may have influenced trial testimonies by financially “rewarding” multiple witnesses involved in his criminal cases.
Financial Rewards at Crucial Moments
According to investigative reporting by ProPublica, nine witnesses received substantial financial benefits from Trump’s media company, campaign, and other business endeavors. These payouts, promotions, and other benefits were allegedly provided at crucial moments during Trump’s legal proceedings, raising suspicions of possible witness tampering. However, legal experts note that proving such tampering would be a significant challenge. Prosecutors would need to demonstrate that Trump and his team intentionally provided these financial incentives to influence trial testimony.
Despite these challenges, former US attorney Barbara McQuade described the pattern among Trump witnesses as “very shady.”
Specific Cases of Alleged Influence
The report highlights several key instances where witnesses in Trump’s legal cases received notable financial benefits. One example is Boris Epshteyn, an attorney and investment banker involved in Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Epshteyn testified before a Georgia grand jury that indicted Trump on election interference charges and was later interviewed by the federal special counsel investigating Trump.
Records show that Epshteyn received an average of $26,000 monthly from his New Jersey-based business, Georgetown Advisory, between November 2022 and August 2023. These payments increased to $53,000 per month following Trump’s federal indictments. Trump officials claim that Epshteyn’s raise was due to increased workload, but the timing has raised eyebrows among white-collar defense lawyers.
Other Witnesses Receiving Benefits
Dan Scavino, Trump’s communications aide with firsthand access to the former president during the lead-up to the January 6 insurrection, also received significant financial perks. Shortly after the congressional probe into Trump’s conduct began, Scavino secured a consulting deal worth $240,000 annually. He was later held in contempt of court for ignoring a subpoena but avoided major repercussions.
Additionally, Scavino was appointed to the board of Trump’s media company and received a $4 million executive promissory note and a $600,000 retention bonus. The exact dates of these payments are unclear, but they were reportedly between receiving the subpoena and testifying.
Payments to Legal and Political Advisors After Indictment in Florida
Susie Wiles, a political consultant and one of Trump’s aides, received a $75,000 payout from the Trump campaign to her consulting firm after Trump’s indictment in Florida for improperly handling classified documents. Wiles also received a 20% raise that May. Trump officials attributed these payments to contract renegotiations. Additionally, Wiles’ daughter Caroline was hired by the Trump campaign at a starting salary of $222,000, making her the campaign’s fourth-highest-paid staffer. Caroline Wiles asserts that the employment offer was based on her qualifications.
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Legal Team Payments
The report also mentions significant payments to members of Trump’s legal team. Atlanta-based attorney Jennifer Little and white-collar defense attorney Eric Corcoran were compelled to testify before the grand jury regarding Trump’s handling of classified documents. Following her testimony, Little received her largest-ever payout of $218,000 from a Trump political action committee. Similarly, Corcoran’s firm received two payments totaling $786,000 after his March testimony, marking the highest single-day payment for Trump’s campaign.
Implications and Responses
Concerns about potential witness interference were also raised before Trump’s conviction in New York. Allen Weisselberg, former chief financial advisor to Trump, was not called as a witness by prosecutors in last month’s proceedings because Weisselberg is still due several payments from a $2 million severance package agreed upon with the Trump Organization. The severance agreement includes a nondisparagement clause and language blocking Weisselberg from voluntarily cooperating with prosecutors.
Real estate developer and close friend of the Trump family Steve Witkoff testified in favor of the real estate operations of the Trump Organization during the New York civil fraud trial last year. Witkoff testified, and two months later the Trump campaign paid his firm over $370,000 for using its private jet, a service for which the campaign had never before paid Witkoff.
Confirming that the jet had been utilized for multiple campaign-related flights, Trump aides told ProPublica that the campaign had only chosen to charter Witkoff’s aircraft for “availability, space, and convenience.”
The ProPublica report underscores the complexity of tracking financial benefits linked to Trump’s witnesses. While campaign committee payouts are publicly disclosed, records from Trump’s private businesses remain largely inaccessible, making it challenging to fully understand the scope of potential financial rewards for other witnesses and allies. As Trump’s legal battles continue, these revelations are likely to add further scrutiny and controversy to his already tumultuous post-presidency.
