During testimony at the civil fraud trial of Donald Trump, his former corporate controller, Jeffrey McConney, became emotional while explaining why he left his long-time position, citing exhaustion from the company’s legal battles. McConney reflected on his 35 years at the Trump Organization, expressing pride in his work but ultimately stating that he wanted to relax and escape accusations of misrepresenting assets for the company.
The trial, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleges that Trump and his company executives fraudulently inflated his financial statements to secure loans and insurance. Trump, however, dismisses the case as a political attack, claiming that the documents actually underestimated his net worth.
McConney confessed to retiring and receiving severance payments after being granted immunity and testifying for the prosecution in a criminal tax fraud trial where he admitted to breaking the law to help fellow executives avoid taxes. At the current civil trial, McConney has testified about the contested asset valuations prepared by his office.
While McConney acknowledged that the valuations were high, he maintained that they were justified and that there was no “right way” to determine them. He emphasized that the figures are not fully representative of the assets’ worth, expressing frustration at being constantly criticized and stating that he eventually “gave up.”
Trump’s defense lawyer, Jesus M. Suarez, asked McConney why he no longer works at the Trump Organization, prompting McConney to pause and reflect aloud about his time with the company. He tearfully testified about his decision to step down, expressing sorrow over potentially misleading anyone or being purposefully inaccurate.
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Associated Press writer Michael R. Sisak contributed.
