Potential Presidential Pardon
Trump Says He Would Consider Pardoning Former Attorney Michael Cohen
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Key Points
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Cohen completed both his federal prison term and supervised release requirements in November 2024, according to the account of his case.
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A federal pardon would not only forgive the offense without erasing the conviction; it could also remove some civil restrictions, potentially restore federal firearms rights and improve access to employment, professional licenses or bonding.
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Cohen has reportedly applied for clemency but has not directly asked Trump for a pardon, according to the report.
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Cohen was later disbarred following the criminal cases and his imprisonment.
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Trump and Cohen spoke publicly in August on Cohen’s 770 WABC radio show, marking their first public conversation in eight years; Trump told him, “They weaponized you. They weaponized a lot of people.”
President Donald Trump said he would consider pardoning Michael Cohen, his former personal attorney, after Cohen claimed he felt pressured and coerced while testifying against Trump in the 2024 New York trial. Above the Law reported that Trump cited Cohen's recent public comments about feeling pressured as a reason to reconsider clemency. Cohen's testimony helped secure Trump's conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records tied to a hush-money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, a case Trump denies and is appealing.
Cohen has maintained that his testimony was truthful and accurate despite claiming he felt coerced during the process. Zero Hedge noted that Cohen completed his three-year federal prison sentence and supervised release in November 2024. Cohen reportedly submitted a pardon application, though he has not directly asked Trump for a pardon. A presidential pardon would apply only to federal offenses and would not erase his conviction or affect Trump's New York state conviction.
How a Federal Pardon Would Actually Help Cohen
A presidential pardon would not erase Cohen's criminal record or declare him innocent. Instead, it would forgive his federal offenses and potentially remove certain restrictions. Above the Law explained that a pardon could restore federal firearms rights and improve access to employment, professional licenses, and bonding. Since Cohen finished serving his sentence and supervision requirements in November 2024, the main benefits would be legal status and reputation rather than early release from prison.
Cohen's Complex Claims About Coercion and Truthfulness
Cohen has made two separate claims: that he was pressured while testifying, and that his testimony was truthful and accurate. These statements do not necessarily contradict each other. A witness can challenge investigative pressure without retracting every factual statement made. Zero Hedge reported that Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal crimes including campaign-finance violations, tax evasion, and bank fraud. Any pardon review would need to distinguish between claims of coercion and the reliability of specific testimony.
Why the Pardon Won't Undo Trump's New York Conviction
Presidential clemency covers federal offenses, not state crimes. Trump's New York conviction involved state charges, so a pardon for Cohen would not directly nullify that guilty verdict. London Insider noted that Trump has cited Cohen's public statements about feeling pressured as grounds for reconsidering clemency. However, legally speaking, a federal pardon would not overturn Trump's state conviction or automatically determine whether Cohen's testimony was accurate.
Cohen's Fall From Prominence and Career Destruction
Cohen was disbarred following his 2018 criminal convictions and three-year prison sentence. Trump and Cohen spoke publicly in August on Cohen's radio show, marking their first public conversation in eight years. During that call, Trump told Cohen, "They weaponized you. They weaponized a lot of people." Above the Law reported that Cohen's application for clemency has been submitted, though the outcome remains uncertain as of now.
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