Politics

Trump: Cohen ‘Directly Asked For Pardon,’ Lied To Congress

Photo credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images

Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
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President Donald Trump accused his former attorney Michael Cohen of lying to Congress in recent public testimony, alleging that Cohen directly asked him for a pardon.

Trump’s explosive accusation directly implicates Cohen in a lie before Congress when he stated flatly last week, “I have never asked for, nor would I accept, a pardon from Mr. Trump.” (RELATED: CNN Adds Major Update To Michael Cohen Story)

Cohen’s testimony quickly came under scrutiny however by the Wall Street Journal who reported that he previously instructed a lawyer to seek a pardon from Trump’s team after he was raided by the FBI in April 2018.

“Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for President Trump, directed his attorney last spring to inquire about the possibility of a presidential pardon, weeks after federal agents raided his properties,” The WSJ reported.

Michael Cohen, the former personal attorney of U.S. President Donald Trump, speaks to reporters he departs with his attorney and advisor Lanny Davis after testifying before a closed House Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 6, 2019. REUTERS/Jim Young

Michael Cohen, the former personal attorney of U.S. President Donald Trump … REUTERS/Jim Young

The account was later corroborated by Cohen’s attorney Lanny Davis who said in a statement that “during that time period, [Cohen] directed his attorney to explore possibilities of a pardon at one point with Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani as well as other lawyers advising President Trump.”

President attorney Rudy Giuliani blasted Cohen on Twitter saying: