Trump Reportedly ‘Thrilled’ By Weisselberg Indictment: ‘This is Going to Hurt Sleepy Joe’

Tommy ChristopherJul 1st, 2021, 8:13 am

WESLACO, TEXAS - JUNE 30: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott addresses former President Donald Trump during a border security briefing to discuss further plans in securing the southern border wall on June 30, 2021 in Weslaco, Texas. Gov. Abbott has pledged to build a state-funded border wall between Texas and Mexico as a surge of mostly Central American immigrants crossing into the United States has challenged U.S. immigration agencies. So far in 2021, U.S. Border Patrol agents have apprehended more than 900,000 immigrants crossing into the United States on the southern border. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) US President Joe Biden makes his way to board Marine One before departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 1, 2021, heading to Surfside, Florida, where he is expected to visit the site of the collapsed condominium tower. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Brandon Bell/Getty Images, MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump is reportedly “thrilled” by the news that the Trump Organization and Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg will be indicted, saying that he thinks the case will be a political liability for President Joe Biden.

News of the indictments on tax-related charges reached Trump during a conference call with advisers on Monday, one of whom told Politico Playbook that Trump was “thrilled” and convinced the case would “hurt Sleepy Joe”:

The former president was on a conference call with his advisers Monday discussing his favorite topic — revenge — when he was interrupted with an update on the Manhattan D.A.’s investigation. He would not be personally indicted, Trump was told — only Weisselberg and the Trump Organization would be. Trump was thrilled by what he saw as light charges, and according to one of the advisers on the call, his mind raced to 2024.

“Just wait until 2024, you’ll see,” Trump said. The former president implied that the legal case would be seen as a political witch hunt that would backfire on Democrats. “This is going to hurt Sleepy Joe.”

The adviser had the impression that Trump, who was already coming off a high from the large crowd at his rally in Ohio last weekend, was emboldened by the news. “Now he’s definitely going to run for president” again, the person said.

Trump aides also told Playbook that Trump remains much more consumed with the idea that he will be declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election and reinstated to the presidency, a constitutional impossibility.

The charges against Weisselberg and the Trump Organization are related to the payment of taxes on the company’s fringe benefits.