Michael Cohen addressed questions about seeking a potential pardon from President Donald Trump during a CNN appearance. This preceded Trump’s feature on Cohen’s New York radio show, 77 WABC. In a preview segment aired Thursday, Cohen spoke with Trump for about 15 minutes. Their discussion covered topics like the 2016 election, Iran, poll numbers, and gasoline prices. Cohen respectfully referred to Trump as “boss.”
In conversation with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Cohen asserted that he refuses to revisit “yesterday’s news.” He expressed confidence in the forgiveness between him and Trump, stating, “there is forgiveness between Donald Trump and myself.” Newsweek tried to get a comment from the White House but did not receive immediate feedback.
Has Cohen Asked Trump for a Pardon?
Tapper inquired if Cohen requested a pardon from Trump. Cohen responded, “I have not.” He explained that he had submitted a pardon application to former President Joe Biden, which was denied. Cohen stated, “I took that same application, with the documentation, and rewrote the cover letter to replace President Joe Biden’s name with President Donald Trump’s.” He mentioned that he plans to follow up as he has not received acknowledgment of the application.
Legal analyst Elie Honig shared his thoughts on CNN, remarking, “It’s a fascinating social experiment. He used the exact same pardon application, initially supported by liberal figures, which wasn’t acted on by Biden. Now he’s resubmitted to Trump.” Honig added, “I don’t know if the same people will support him now that he’s mentioned feeling pressured and coerced.”
Trump and Cohen’s Friendship Explained
Trump and Cohen maintained a close personal and professional relationship for approximately 15 years, beginning in 2006 when Cohen joined the Trump Organization. As one of Trump’s trusted advisers, Cohen was often regarded as his personal lawyer and “fixer,” managing sensitive issues. During Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, Cohen was a staunch supporter, declaring readiness to “take a bullet” for him.
Their bond started deteriorating in 2018 amid federal investigations into Cohen’s business practices and his involvement in alleged payments during the 2016 campaign. The split turned bitter when Cohen pleaded guilty to various federal charges, including tax and bank fraud, campaign-finance violations, and lying to Congress about plans to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Cohen became a vocal critic of Trump and a key witness in the trial over payments to Stormy Daniels. Publicly, Trump criticized Cohen, questioning his credibility. A Manhattan jury later found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying records in 2024.
Cohen commented in January that prosecutors from the Manhattan DA and New York Attorney General’s office “pressured and coerced” him to deliver testimony supporting their narratives. Trump has since taken up these claims by Cohen.
In the radio segment with Cohen, Trump acknowledged his respect for Cohen, referring to his “recantation.” This exchange marked a notable development in their complex history. “This is the first public conversation between the president and myself,” Cohen told Newsweek, emphasizing their friendship spanning 15 years. Last month, Cohen informed CNN that their relationship had improved significantly, describing it as “cordial and growing.”
However, Trump hasn’t publicly described their reconciliation in detail. The full interview may thus reveal more about the current state of their relationship.
What Happens Next?
Cohen announced that his complete interview with Trump would air on his Sunday show, When You Know You Know, at 5 p.m. ET on the same channel.
For further details, contact Newsweek editors, Gray R. Thomas.