The rich guy wants no part of anything to do with it, so is being cornered.
The lawyer wants to bring in the rich guy, not to back up stories, but to get him to write a check to the person suing to get them to go away. The rich guy wants no part of anything to do with it, so is being cornered. If he pays, then the lawyer can keep saying what he has always said or even better sign a mutual NDA and say his hands are tied when it comes to discussing things.