'Bombshell exchange' at Trump fraud trial sparks 'instant objection' from lawyer

Patrick Birney, an assistant vice president for financial operations at the Trump Organization, delivered explosive testimony on Monday that drew a furious reaction from an attorney representing former President Donald Trump.

As reported by The Messenger's Adam Klasfeld, an attorney representing New York Attorney General Letitia James' office asked Birney whether former Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg had ever told him that Trump wanted to see his net worth on his statements of financial condition go up from year to year, to which Birney replied, "Yes."

Klasfeld then added that this "bombshell exchange instantly sparked an objection by Trump's lawyer Chris Kise," who argued that Birney's testimony in this matter should be inadmissible on the grounds that it is "the heart of hearsay."

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Forbes reporter Dan Alexander added some context to Birney's testimony, which he said would leave a mark regardless of whether Judge Arthur Engoron finds it admissible.

"His testimony, delivered in monotone with long pauses, was certainly not theatrical," wrote Alexander, who has become a frequent target of Trump for his reporting on the ways the former president fraudulently inflated his net worth. "But the actual words he said were devastating to his employer, the Trump Organization – and ultimately to Donald Trump."