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Trump controller breaks down over fraud trial ‘I just couldn’t do it anymore’

By Jake Beardslee · November 22, 2023

In brief…

  • Former Trump Organization controller Jeff McConney broke down emotionally over fraud accusations
  • McConney said multiple investigations and subpoenas took a toll despite pride in his career
  • Prosecutor confronted McConney over attempts to shift blame from himself to accounting firm
  • Evidence suggests McConney had more recent involvement than he testified
  • Trial resumes Monday with more Trump executives expected to testify
Former longtime Trump Organization controller Jeff McConney cried on the stand over fraud accusations and blame he tried to attribute to others but the prosecutor confronted him with evidence of his own extensive involvement.  The Trump Organization/Wikimedia

After four days on the stand, former Trump Organization controller Jeff McConney broke down crying on Tuesday, stating “I just couldn’t do it anymore. I just wanted to relax and stop being accused of misrepresenting assets for the company that I loved working for.”

McConney apologized for his emotional reaction, saying “Sorry.” He explained that the numerous subpoenas and having to testify about allegations of misconduct had taken a toll, even though he remains “very proud” of his 35 years at the company.

McConney acknowledged receiving most of a $500,000 severance package from the Trump Organization. Assistant New York Attorney General Andrew Amer challenged McConney’s earlier testimony shifting blame to accounting firm Mazars for any inflated valuations on Trump’s financial statements.

Amer presented McConney’s own handwritten edits to statement drafts that he had attributed to Mazars. At one point McConney conceded his memory was “incorrect” regarding a disclosure he had claimed Mazars wrote.

Amer suggested McConney was involved with the statements as recently as 2021, despite his earlier testimony that he handed over the duty in 2016. Amer showed notes from McConney on 2021 drafts, including direction that Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. review sections. McConney eventually said, “I had a little bit of input.”

McConney maintained he aimed to make his notes as accurate as possible “to let the reader of the spreadsheet know where the numbers were coming from.”

The trial resumes Monday after Thanksgiving. Trump Hotels CFO Mark Hawthorn is expected to testify, followed by Deutsche Bank lenders next week.