Has Trump’s book-keeper spilled the beans, too?
DONALD Trump’s personal bookkeeper has reportedly become the latest member of his inner-circle to be granted immunity from prosecution in return for talking to investigators.
Trump Organisation chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg has been quizzed as part of a probe involving the President’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, the Wall Street Journal said.
Mr Weisselberg, a Trump confidant who started working for his family in the early 1970s, was called to testify before a federal grand jury earlier this year.
A co-operation deal between Mr Weisselberg and prosecutors could be damaging because of his long-time role in Mr Trump’s business affairs.
Mr Cohen, who arranged hush-money payments before the 2016 US presidential election to at least two women who claimed they had sex with Mr Trump, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to campaign finance violations and other charges.
He said the President directed him to arrange the payments, which could be considered illegal campaign contributions
‘How to set the whole thing up’
under election law. Although not named in the Cohen case, Mr Weisselberg is believed to be one of two Trump executives who reimbursed Mr Cohen and covered up the payments by saying they were legal expenses.
Mr Weisselberg was mentioned by Mr Cohen on a secret recording the lawyer made in September 2016, which aired on CNN last month.
Mr Cohen and Mr Trump appeared to discuss reimbursing the National Enquirer newspaper for a payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who said she had a year-long affair with Trump – an allegation which has been denied.
On the tape, Mr Cohen is heard saying: ‘I’ve spoken to Allen Weisselberg about how to set the whole thing up.’
Miss McDougal sold her story to American Media Inc for more than £100,000 in August 2016 but it was never published by the Enquirer, a practice known as a ‘catch and kill’ aimed at suppressing potentially damaging stories.
Two executives at American Media have also been granted immunity.