Lanny Davis Claims Cohen Did Not Lie to Congress Over Pardon
News Correspondent
Updated Mar. 07, 2019 11:46AM ET / Published Mar. 07, 2019 10:31AM ET
Reuters / Brendan McDermid
Lanny Davis, Michael Cohen's attorney, has said that his client did consider the possibility of a pardon from Donald Trump—but claims Cohen later decided he would never accept a pardon from the president. Davis was attempting to clear up confusion about Cohen's position after the lawyer admitted the former Trump fixer asked his lawyers to explore a pardon from the president last April—a position that cast doubt on Cohen's statement under oath that he had "never asked for, nor would I accept, a pardon from President Trump." Davis now says Cohen only considered a pardon before he publicly disclosed his decision to flip. "Prior to Michael Cohen's decision to leave the 'Joint Defense Group' and tell the truth on July 2, 2018, Michael was open to the ongoing 'dangling' of a possible pardon by Trump representatives privately and in the media," he said in a statement, adding: "During that time period, he 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." However, Davis went on: "After July 2, 2018, Mr. Cohen authorized me as a new lawyer to say publicly Mr. Cohen would never accept a pardon from President Trump even if offered. That continues to be the case. And his statement at the Oversight Hearing was true—and consistent with his post-JDA commitment to tell the truth."