Donald J. Trump watched anxiously from the White House in April 2018 as news broke about federal agents searching the home of Michael D. Cohen, the man entrusted to conceal some of the president’s deepest secrets.
After initially coming to Mr. Cohen’s defense, Mr. Trump washed his hands of his fixer within weeks, brushing aside Mr. Cohen’s feelers about a pardon and disavowing his legal bills.
Mr. Trump took a different tack when prosecutors shifted their scrutiny to Allen H. Weisselberg, the Trump family’s longtime financial gatekeeper.
Mr. Trump’s company paid Mr. Weisselberg’s legal bills and awarded him a $2 million severance, with a condition: He could not voluntarily cooperate with any law enforcement agency.
But prosecutors say Mr. Weisselberg lied during his testimony, and this month he pleaded guilty to perjury.
Persons:
Donald J, Trump, Michael D, Cohen, Cohen’s, Allen H, Weisselberg, Mr
Organizations:
White House, Trump
Locations:
Manhattan, U.S