In a stunning development, Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, has pleaded guilty to two counts of perjury in connection with his testimony during former President Donald Trump's civil fraud trial. Weisselberg's attorney, Seth Rosenberg, confirmed the guilty plea during a court hearing on Monday.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has recommended a sentence of five months in jail for Weisselberg and has agreed to his release before the sentencing, which is set for April 10th. The charges against Weisselberg stem from allegations of perjury in a deposition and during testimony in Trump's civil fraud trial.

According to Bragg's office, Weisselberg is accused of lying under oath in July 2020 when he claimed to have only learned about the overvaluation of Trump's triplex apartment after Forbes published an article on the matter. However, it is alleged that Weisselberg knew about the overvaluation before the Forbes article was published. As part of his guilty plea, Weisselberg has admitted to engaging in conduct that led to other instances of perjury.

A spokesperson for the district attorney emphasized the seriousness of lying in depositions and at trial, stating that "it is a crime...plain and simple." The spokesperson added that Weisselberg had violated his oath to tell the truth and that he is now being held accountable for his actions.

Assistant District Attorney Gary Fishman expressed concern over the harm caused by Weisselberg's perjury, stating that it "tears at the very fabric of our justice system." While Rosenberg, Weisselberg's attorney, did not comment on the matter after the hearing, he stated in a subsequent statement that his client is looking forward to moving past this situation.

In response to Weisselberg's guilty plea, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung lambasted District Attorney Bragg, accusing him of prosecutorial misconduct and stating that the pursuit of Trump amounted to "corrupt, election interference persecution tactics." Cheung likened Bragg's actions to those of Joseph Stalin and cautioned against such tactics in America.

It is worth noting that Weisselberg's guilty plea does not require him to enter into a cooperation agreement that would necessitate his testimony at any future trials. Weisselberg surrendered to the Manhattan district attorney's office on Monday morning.

The developments surrounding Weisselberg come after his prior guilty plea in 2022 regarding multiple tax fraud charges in a 15-year scheme at the Trump Organization. In that case, Weisselberg and the company were charged, resulting in a five-month jail sentence for the former CFO. Two Trump Organization subsidiaries were convicted, and hefty fines totaling $1.6 million were imposed. Additionally, Weisselberg agreed to pay $2 million in back taxes for concealing income through undisclosed benefits.

Former President Trump recently suffered a legal setback when New York State Judge Arthur Engoron ordered him, his adult sons, business associates, and the Trump Organization to pay over $350 million in damages in the civil fraud trial. The judge also barred Trump from operating businesses in New York for three years. Trump's request to delay enforcement of the damages was subsequently rejected, and he is expected to appeal the ruling.

In his ruling, Engoron criticized Weisselberg's lack of credibility on the witness stand, noting the intentional evasiveness and selective memory displayed in his testimony. The judge remarked that Weisselberg's unreliable testimony highlighted the tight control the Trump Organization exerted over him.

As Weisselberg's guilty plea sends shockwaves through the legal and political spheres, the fallout and implications for both the former CFO and the Trump Organization remain to be seen.