President Trump on Friday accused his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, of lying to Congress again, saying he "directly" asked for a pardon.
Trump on Twitter was responding to Cohen saying in his congressional testimony last week that he has never "asked for, nor would I accept, a pardon from Mr. Trump." Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis, later said Cohen did direct his attorney at the time to contact Trump's lawyers about the possibility of a pardon and that Cohen's statement was only referring to the period after he began cooperating with prosecutors.
Trump now says Cohen asked him for a pardon "directly" and that "I said NO." Earlier on Friday, Trump had stopped short of making this claim, saying that Cohen's "lawyers said that they went to my layers and asked for pardons" and that "I can go a step above that, but I won't go do it now." He also told reporters that he knows Cohen "lied about the pardon" from "watching and seeing you folks at night."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Texas OKs gerrymander sought by TrumpSpeed Read The House approved a new congressional map aimed at flipping Democratic-held seats to Republican control
-
Israel starts Gaza assault, approves West Bank planSpeed Read Israel forces pushed into the outskirts of Gaza City and Netanyahu's government gave approval for a settlement to cut the occupied Palestinian territory in two
-
Conservatism is rising. Just look at the music.In the spotlight The radio reflects American culture
-
Texas OKs gerrymander sought by Trump
Speed Read The House approved a new congressional map aimed at flipping Democratic-held seats to Republican control
-
Israel starts Gaza assault, approves West Bank plan
Speed Read Israel forces pushed into the outskirts of Gaza City and Netanyahu's government gave approval for a settlement to cut the occupied Palestinian territory in two
-
Court says labor board's structure unconstitutionalSpeed Read The ruling has broad implications for labor rights enforcement in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi
-
Feds seek harsh charges in DC arrests, except for riflesSpeed Read The DOJ said 465 arrests had been made in D.C. since Trump federalized law enforcement there two weeks ago
-
Trump taps Missouri AG to help lead FBISpeed Read Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been appointed FBI co-deputy director, alongside Dan Bongino
-
Trump warms to Kyiv security deal in summitSpeed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's support for guaranteeing his country's security 'a major step forward'
-
DC protests as Trump deployment ramps upSpeed Read Trump's 'crusade against crime' is targeting immigrants and the homeless
-
Ukraine, European leaders to meet Trump after Putin talksSpeed Read Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week
