Cohen's lawyer reportedly approached Trump attorneys about pardon

A lawyer for Michael Cohen brought up the possibility of a pardon to President Trump's attorneys last April, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal in a report published Monday.

The discussion took place after FBI agents raided Cohen's home, office, and hotel room. His lawyer at the time, Stephen Ryan, was reviewing seized files with Trump's attorneys. The lawyers — Jay Sekulow, Rudy Giuliani, and Joanna Hendon — rejected the idea of a pardon, although Giuliani said it could happen in the future, the Journal reports.

People familiar with the matter said Ryan seemed to hint that if there were no hope of a pardon, Cohen would start cooperating with federal prosecutors. Giuliani declined to confirm to the Journal whether or not Ryan asked about a pardon, and congressional investigators are now looking into the conversation.

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After Ryan finished reviewing the seized documents, Cohen hired a new attorney and went on ABC News, saying his "first loyalty" was to his family and the United States. He has spoken to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office several times, as well as investigators in the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan who are investigating the Trump Organization.

Last year, Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations in connection with paying off two women who said they had sexual affairs with Trump.