The former controller at the Trump Organization, Jeffrey McConney, became emotional on the witness stand as he recounted his departure from a job he deeply cherished. Testifying in President Donald Trump’s civil “fraud” trial in New York, McConney expressed how he felt compelled to leave due to relentless politically motivated investigations and harassment from Trump’s adversaries. He revealed the toll of years of being subpoenaed and questioned about Trump’s assets.
Despite Trump’s global real estate prominence, legal scrutiny began only when he entered politics. Last year, Democrat Attorney General Letitia James sued Trump, accusing him of defrauding lenders by inflating his assets. During Tuesday’s testimony, McConney, who served at the Trump Organization from 1987 until February, expressed pride in his work but struggled to maintain composure when questioned about his departure.
“I just wanted to relax and stop being accused of misrepresenting assets for the company that I loved working for. I’m sorry,” he said.
The judge in question, Arthur Engoron, known for his radical views, has previously issued rulings against Trump. Trump and his legal team contend that the judge demonstrates bias against him. The former president maintains that his financial statements accurately disclosed his wealth and included disclaimers cautioning potential buyers.
Expert witnesses for Trump have criticized the state’s efforts to assign precise values to his renowned properties, such as Mar-A-Lago and Trump Tower.
“I think everything was justified,” McConney said.
“Numbers don’t represent fully what these assets are worth.
“To be hit over the head every time with a negative comment over something is just really frustrating, and I gave up,” he said.
James is seeking a $250 million fine against Trump and a prohibition on his business activities in New York. McConney is a co-defendant in the lawsuit alongside Trump, his two adult sons, and the Trump Organization. Trump has consistently criticized the case, portraying it and James as politically motivated. In confrontational testimony before Engoron, Trump, under a current gag order, denounced James as “racist” and referred to Engoron as a “psycho” in a strongly worded Thanksgiving Day statement. Trump accused Engoron of intentionally undervaluing his assets to secure a fraud conviction even before a trial. The case is anticipated to conclude in December.
