Trump’s Trial Witnesses Believed to Engage in “Shady Influence” After Receiving Pay Raises, Financial Benefits

By Moon Harper

Jun 04, 2024 01:03 AM EDT

According to a new report, former President Donald Trump's campaign staffers have received salary increases and additional financial benefits despite his multiple legal challenges.

Trump Company — (Photo : Pexel/Photo by Carlos Herrero: )

Trump Seems Like Paying Off Witnesses

A ProPublica analysis of public disclosures, court records, and securities filings published on Monday revealed that nine trial witnesses received substantial pay increases from Trump's campaign, severance packages, new employment opportunities, and shares and cash grants from Trump's media company.

Some of these witnesses include Boris Epshteyn, a campaign adviser whose reported pay more than doubled; Susie Wiles, the campaign chief, whose daughter was hired by the campaign and is now the fourth-highest-paid employee; and Margo Martin, a Trump aide who received an approximately 20% pay raise.

In response to questions from ProPublica, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung characterized the 2024 campaign as the most well-run and professional operation in political history and asserted that any suggestion of engaging in behavior resembling tampering is absurd and entirely false.

Trump's Shady Influence on Witnesses

Wiles and Martin testified before the grand jury in the federal classified documents case. They were observed at the New York City courthouse during Trump's nearly seven-week trial in the hush money case. Epshteyn, who provided testimony in the Georgia election interference case, accompanied the presumed Republican presidential nominee almost daily, frequently sitting in the second row behind the defense table.

The jury in Trump's hush money case trial delivered a unanimous guilty verdict on Thursday, where 12 jurors convicted the former president of 34 felony counts of falsifying business documents related to payments made by former Trump attorney Michael Cohen to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

The courtroom at Manhattan Criminal Court saw a constant stream of Trump allies who traveled from different parts of the country to demonstrate their support. Notable appearances included prominent Republicans such as House Speaker Mike Johnson and several potential vice presidential candidates, including Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Longtime Trump aide Dan Scavino was also present, who testified before the grand jury in the federal election interference case against Trump. ProPublica reported that between receiving a subpoena and giving testimony, Scavino was appointed to the board of Trump Media and granted a $600,000 retention bonus and a $4 million "executive promissory note" paid in shares, which Scavino said were unrelated to any investigation.

The publication also stated that the Trump campaign's monthly payments to Epshteyn's company, Georgetown Advisory, had significantly increased. From November 2022 to August 2023, the average was $26,000, but after Trump's August 14 indictment, it rose to $50,000. Since October, the average monthly payment has been $53,500.

Following Wiles' testimony, her political consulting firm allegedly received its highest-ever monthly payment from the Trump campaign, totaling $75,000, and a 20% raise, which the campaign attributed to a contract renegotiation. In subsequent months, Wiles' daughter, Caroline, who had previously worked for the Trump White House, was also hired by the campaign, with an annual salary of $222,000. Caroline stated that her hiring was unrelated to her mother's position.

Martin, who has been noted for her resemblance to Melania Trump, also received a roughly 20% pay raise, increasing her salary from $155,000 to $185,000, months before her appearance before the grand jury, as stated by the Trump campaign.

Others who benefited financially included Trump attorneys Jennifer Little and Evan Corcoran. Little received $218,000 from a Trump political action committee after testifying in the classified records case, while Corcoran's firm received $786,000 from the campaign shortly after his testimony in the same probe.

One of the critical questions in the hush money trial was whether former Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg would testify. Cohen, a star witness in the case, testified that Weisselberg was responsible for determining the $420,000 reimbursement owed by The Trump Organization to Cohen. Weisselberg, currently serving time for perjury, never testified during the trial. Prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney's office highlighted that he had received a $2 million severance agreement in January 2023. As of the trial, the agreement remained unresolved, with Weisselberg still owed several payments. The Trump Organization has stated that it decided to provide severance to Weisselberg and former controller Jeffrey McConney based on their years of service with the company, which President Trump had no involvement in that decision.

Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, expressed to ProPublica that the situation feels very shady, particularly when observing a pattern, and worries about it having a corrupt influence. However, it would be challenging to prove in court.