Thread: For Trump, Allen Weisselberg may be the man who knew too much

For Trump, Allen Weisselberg may be the man who knew too much



Luppe B. Luppen and Hunter Walker
,Yahoo News•August 24, 2018

Allen Weisselberg (Photo: JB Miller/Trump Organization) More

As the long-tenured finance chief of the Trump Organization, Allen Weisselberg spent decades working as one of the senior figures in the president’s real estate business. Now, his reported cooperation with a probe related to Donald Trump’s financial dealings could have ramifications for both federal and states investigations into the president and his business dealings.

Prosecutors investigating Trump’s inner circle reportedly now reportedly have a limited deal with Weisselberg, who has provided testimony against former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen. If his cooperation expanded, it could play a crucial role in multiple ongoing investigations.

According to the Wall Street Journal, federal prosecutors granted immunity to Weisselberg in exchange for information about payments to Cohen, which were made to two women during the 2016 presidential campaign in order to suppress their stories of alleged affairs with Trump. Cohen pleaded guilty to eight felonies on Tuesday, including charges related to his personal finances and campaign finance law violations stemming from the payments designed to shield Trump from the damaging allegations during the 2016 presidential race.

The U.S. attorney’s office in the Southern District of New York, which led the Cohen investigation, declined to comment on this story.

The Associated Press subsequently reported that the immunity deal was “restricted to Weisselberg’s grand jury testimony last month in the Cohen case.” Weisselberg is in a unique position to fully lay bare the inner workings of Trump’s empire.

If prosecutors were able to secure Weisselberg’s broader cooperation, there could be dramatic ramifications. He almost certainly has valuable information on much more than the hush money payments.

A source familiar with the Trump Organization said Weisselberg, who did not respond to requests for comment, was intimately involved in every aspect of the company’s finances and even helped craft the statement Trump debuted during the campaign describing his net worth.

“Every bill went through him,” the source said of Weisselberg.

Trump has attacked allies who turned on him by either airing dirty laundry in the press or a courtroom. In the three days since Cohen’s guilty plea, the president has excoriated his former attorney in a series of tweets, including one where he criticized Cohen for breaking under pressure. In an interview with Fox News that aired Thursday, Trump had harsh words for colleagues who offer information about him in order make deals with prosecutors.

“It’s called flipping and it almost ought to be illegal,” Trump said in the interview, later adding, “It almost ought to be outlawed; it’s not fair.”

The Trump Organization did not respond to a request for comment.

However, there were indications Trump might not have given up on Weisselberg just yet and may be hoping the executive stays loyal. A source close to the Trump family spoke highly of Weisselberg, even after the reports of the immunity deal surfaced on Friday.

“Allen is an amazing person. Truly a class act. I have the highest respect for him,” the source said.

Trump’s attorney, Rudy Giuliani, dismissed the deal in a text message to Yahoo News.

“Old news,” wrote Giuliani. “SDNY checking the boxes.”

Giuliani also said he believes Weisselberg “still works” at the Trump Organization.

Weisselberg played a crucial part in the payments Cohen set up to secure the silence of the women, Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels. After Cohen brokered deals with each of the women, Weisselberg arranged for Cohen to be reimbursed from Trump’s own funds.

After news of Weisselberg’s immunity deal broke, CNN reported that his interview with federal prosecutors occurred weeks ago and was indeed focused on the payments.

In the case of McDougal, a surreptitious recording Cohen made of Trump features the two men talking about the plan. Cohen notes on the tape that he collaborated with Weisselberg on the project, seeking his input on how best to form a shell company that was used to give a tabloid publisher $150,000 so it could buy the exclusive rights to McDougal’s story while never actually planning to run an article about it.

In the case of Daniels, the plan Cohen admitted in his guilty plea was less intricate. Cohen negotiated a $130,000 payment to Daniels in exchange for her signature on a nondisclosure agreement. Once again, the money came through a shell company, but this time Cohen initially paid out of pocket and went into debt.

Weisselberg comes into this story when Cohen sought reimbursement for the $130,000. Cohen created fake invoices to submit to the Trump Organization, and eventually the Trump Organization’s executives, reportedly including Weisselberg, decided to pay Cohen $420,000 spread out over several months in what they would call a “monthly retainer.” The amount was greater than $130,000 to allow Cohen to recoup the hush money expenses, cover his taxes, and to provide him some additional compensation. Weisselberg was in charge of making these “retainer” payments.

Federal and local prosecutors have been cooperating on various Trump probes. The U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York began its investigation of Cohen based on a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and whether the Trump campaign cooperated with those efforts. Mueller is continuing to investigate Cohen’s role in a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow.

If Weisselberg decided to fully open his kimono and reveal all he knows, the federal investigation in the Southern District of New York would be the most obvious potential beneficiary. However, in some ways, the nature of that office’s interest in Trump is the most mysterious. As of Friday afternoon, it is not known what other subjects that federal investigation is pursuing. If Trump Organization executives, or even the president, are in its cross hairs, then Weisselberg could offer key insights.

Special counsel Mueller’s investigation, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is another potential beneficiary. For Mueller’s investigators, Weisselberg could detail the nature and extent of the financing the Trump Organization has received from sources connected to Russia. He could also offer them insight into any investments or potential investments Trump has made either in Russia or with Russian partners. A spokesperson for the special counsel’s office declined to comment for this story.

Weisselberg could also potentially be a valuable material witness in the New York attorney general’s state-level investigation into President Trump’s charitable foundation. In June, New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood filed a lawsuit against the Trump Foundation alleging a “pattern of illegal conduct,” including “willful self-dealing.” Weisselberg has long been the treasurer of the Trump Foundation. In preparation for its lawsuit, the attorney general’s office conducted a lengthy interview with Weisselberg and obtained his emails. The investigators allege that Weisselberg collaborated with Trump and campaign officials in advance of the 2016 Iowa primary to use the charity’s funds to benefit the campaign. The New York attorney general’s office declined to comment on Weisselberg.

After Weisselberg’s deal became public on Friday morning, speculation intensified about the information that such a well-placed cooperative witness could provide to investigators looking into Trump’s business and personal affairs. Bloomberg Opinion Executive Editor Tim O’Brien was among the choruson Twitter.

“Weisselberg’s cooperation takes the Mueller and SDNY investigations out of some of the penny ante stuff in play so far and into the heart of the Trump Organization and President Trump’s business history. The game gets started here,” O’Brien wrote.

With Weisselberg’s deal relatively limited in scope, that game will have to wait — for now.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-all...c=bell-brknews

Top Trump Organization official Weisselberg granted immunity in Cohen investigation

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

“It’s called flipping and it almost ought to be illegal,” Trump said in the interview, later adding, “It almost ought to be outlawed; it’s not fair.

“It’s called flipping and it almost ought to be illegal,” Trump said in the interview, later adding, “It almost ought to be outlawed; it’s not fair.”

GET OVER IT.


What to Say When Your Child Says "That's Not Fair!"

By Amy Morin, LCSW
Updated February 08, 2018



Beau Lark/Corbis/VCG / Getty Images

Whether your preschooler insists it’s not fair that it’s time to leave the playground, or your 13-year-old says it’s not fair he can’t go to the movies with his friends, you’re likely to hear protests about such injustices over the years.

But the way you respond to protests that things aren’t fair will teach your child valuable life lessons. The words you use will have a direct impact on how he deals with other injustices well into adulthood.

If you convince him that he has no control over anything in the world, he’ll grow up believing he’s a helpless victim. But, if you respond in a way that tells him he should take action each time he encounters something he perceives as unfair, he may grow up to be an overly demanding adult.

Whenever your child says, “That’s not fair,” respond with empathy while also sending the message that he’s mentally strong enough to deal with disappointment. Here’s how you can send your child healthy messages about fairness.

Explain That Fair Doesn’t Mean Equal

When your child is upset that you spend more time helping his younger sibling or you give his older sibling a bigger allowance, explain to him that fair doesn’t mean equal. Instead, you give each child what they need. And that means everyone will get different amounts of your time or different types of privileges.

Explain that this is true in the adult world too. Some people require more resources and others earn more money. But that doesn’t mean it’s unfair. That’s just how the world works.

Say, “I’m Sorry You Feel Upset”

Validate your child’s feelings when he’s angry or sad. Even if you think his emotions are out of proportion to the situation, acknowledge how he’s likely feeling.

Labelling the emotion teaches your child feeling words. And knowing that you understand how he feels can help him calm down.

A child who knows you understand he’s upset may be less likely to turn sulking into an all-out temper tantrum if you acknowledge his emotions. When kids think they aren’t getting their point across, they often feel compelled to show you how upset they really are.

Normalize Your Child’s Frustration

Rather than saying, “Life’s not fair, get over it,” show some empathy by saying, “Yes, sometimes it’s true that life doesn’t feel fair. I experience that too.” Learning how to deal with perceived injustice is a life skill and it’s important for your child to be prepared for that.

When he becomes an adult he’ll need to be able to deal with fairness issues at work or in his relationships. Knowing that he can tolerate unfair situations can give him confidence to be able to move on when he encounters hardship.

Remind Your Child to Focus on the Things He Can Control

It’s important to teach your child to recognize when he has control over things and when he doesn’t. So while he can’t control the weather, he can control his behavior.

So if he’s sad he can’t go to the park because it’s raining, help him discover healthy alternatives, like playing a game indoors or doing an art project.

If your child insists it’s unfair he has to stay in for recess at school when he doesn’t have his work done, talk about his options. Ask him what steps he could take to get his work done on time so he can play outside with his friends.

Keep the Big Picture in Mind

If you don’t address the issue appropriately when your child complains something isn’t fair, you may be at risk of raising a child who whines that everything is unfair. A child who constantly says things like, “It’s not fair Grandma gave Grandpa a bigger cookie than she gave me!” or “It’s not fair I don’t get to be first in line,” will struggle to get along with others.

Kids who continuously keep score or express displeasure that everyday tasks are unfair, usually aren’t looking for fairness. They’re looking for special treatment. They believe they should always get the best of everything.

So each time your child complains that something isn’t fair, look at it as an opportunity to help him gain control over his thoughts, emotions, and behavior.

Avoid Arguing About Your Child’s Experience

Avoid saying things like, “Oh your teacher does like you,” or, “You get more things than your sister does every day.”

Although you might not agree with your child’s perception, telling him it isn’t true won’t help.

So rather than get into an argument when your child says something isn’t fair, simply acknowledge his experience. Say, “It can be tough when you feel like a teacher singles you out,” or, “I know it’s hard to see your sister get so much recognition sometimes.”

Don’t Reinforce the Injustice

You also don’t want to reinforce your child’s belief that a situation is unfair. Saying something like, “Yes, your coach favors those other kids over you. It’s probably just because he’s friends with their parents.”

Reinforcing your child’s sense of injustice could lead him to think his situation is hopeless and helpless. Eventually, he may grow resentful and bitter over his perception that he’s treated poorly.

Be a Good Role Model

Pay close attention to your attitude. If you blame other people for unfairly getting ahead or you complain about external circumstances holding you back, your child may adopt a victim mentality.

Even if you don’t say things like, “Oh it’s not fair I didn’t get that promotion,” your attitude will shine through. Try to show your child that hard work, practice, and effort lead to results and when things seem unfair, you are able to deal with it in a healthy manner.

Allow Your Child to Feel Disappointed

It’s important for kids to learn how to deal with uncomfortable emotions, like disappointment and sadness, in healthy ways. Teach your child healthy coping strategies to deal with distress.

Talking to someone about her feelings, coloring pictures, or writing in a journal are just a few examples of ways your child can express her feelings. Proactively help your child explore which strategies work best for her.

Kids who lack coping skills may turn to unhealthy options, like food or even alcohol. Help your child recognize that she can cope with her emotions, rather than escape them.

Teach Empathy

Help your child see that if everything were in his favor, it wouldn’t be fair to everyone else. If he always got to go first, all the other kids would think it wasn’t fair. Or, if he gets equal amount of playing time on the basketball court, even though he never practices, it wouldn’t be fair to the players who work hard to improve.

Teach him to think about other people’s feelings. When your child has empathy for others, he’ll be more willing to share and he’ll be able to be happy for other people who succeed.

Encourage Your Child to Fight for Social Injustice

Help your child identify times when it makes sense to fight certain injustices. If a child is getting bullied, or a certain group of people’s rights are being violated, it’s important to speak up.

Teach your child socially appropriate ways to address those. Talking to a teacher, starting a petition, or getting involved in a charity might be healthy ways he can deal with social injustices.

Help your child understand when he encounters an actual rights violation. Make sure he knows that although it’s inappropriate to argue with a referee in the middle of a basketball game, it may be appropriate to start a petition if kids who receive free lunch have to sit at a separate table.

https://www.verywellfamily.com/what-...t-fair-4100309

Rudy Giuliani distances himself from Trump over his 'flipping' comments: 'The President is not a lawyer' - NY

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