I would suppose that Michael had some kind of means by which he could deny involvement
Perhaps this is why he asks Tom 'are you gonna come along with me in these things I have to do or what.' He knew he was going to have to explain his ties to the dead assassins.
That point is very well taken, Ice!
I'd always thought that when Michael said, "Are you gonna come along with me in these things I have to do," he meant convincing Frankie to kill himself. But clearly, he'd need Tom's "respectability" and his front as the family lawyer (same front used at the Senate hearings) to explain away Michael's ties to Rocco if Rocco were killed or captured in the Roth hit.
