Rick Gates flipped. Michael Cohen flipped. Paul Manafort was convicted. David Pecker has immunity. Now, Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Allen Weisselberg has immunity, too, and experts are weighing in on what that might mean.
There has been some disagreement on how serious this could be for President Donald Trump, considering the distinct possibility, even likelihood, that this immunity deal is limited to the Cohen payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal before the election.
Law&Crime Founder Dan Abrams tweeted that Weisselberg’s deal is “with the Southern District of NY, not Mueller’s team and is likely confined to Cohen/hush payments.” Abrams believes it is likely “not some broader deep dive into President Trump’s finances.”
Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti tweeted that it’s obvious Weisselberg himself has criminal exposure and that he has information prosecutors consider valuable:
Mariotti initially seemed to agree that this immunity deal appears to be limited to the so-called ‘hush payments’ to the women with whom President Donald Trump is alleged to have had affairs.
He later suggested that the possibility of broad Weisselberg cooperation was a very real one:
Several opinion leaders and experts went down that path, saying Weisselberg’s decision to ‘flip’ carries broader implications.
Ultimately, attorney and law professor Ross Garber noted that the immunity deal “opens the door for Weisselberg’s Congressional testimony,” if it is requested:
Congressman Ted Lieu said, either way, he believes this increases the legal jeopardy President Trump may face:
[Image via MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images.]
[Editor’s note: This piece has been updated with additional reaction.]