Trump Organization Executive Handed Immunity In Cohen Investigation
The fallout from Michael Cohen’s stunning revelations last week is spreading to President Donald Trump's business dealings, with new reports that prosecutors awarded The Trump Organization’s chief financial officer immunity in exchange for information.
Cohen, the president's former personal lawyer, pleaded guilty to eight charges last week, including breaking campaign finance laws. He said Trump had told him to pay two women before the 2016 election to keep them quiet about alleged affairs with the then-candidate.
The Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg was given immunity by prosecutors for providing information in the investigation, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Weisselberg, along with Trump’s sons, controls The Trump Organization's business interests while Trump serves as president. Weisselberg is a longtime employee of the company, according to the newspaper, having worked there for decades as both chief financial officer and vice president.
Weisselberg was called to testify before a grand jury, according to a report in the WSJ from July, and did an interview with investigators. Whether or not he ended up giving evidence is not clear.
Weisselberg reportedly authorized The Trump Organization to repay Cohen for the $130K he paid to adult film actress Stephanie Clifford — known as Stormy Daniels — to keep quiet about her claims she had sex with the president 10 years ago. A source told the WSJ that Weisselberg did not know where the money was going.
Trump denies the affairs.
In May, special counsel Robert Mueller subpoenaed The Trump Organization to hand over documents related to Russia and other topics he is investigating.
