WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) – Michael Cohen's testimony before the US Congress on the forgiveness of his crimes, a former personal and punctual "repairman" lawyer, could have been clearer, but he never personally asked to the President such a reprieve. , Said Cohen's lawyer.
In a statement to lawmakers Tuesday, Cohen's legal team sought to clarify his recent testimony, including whether Cohen had asked for, or offered, a grace to the man, who had previously stated that He would take a ball for the Republican President. cooperate with federal prosecutors.
Cohen, who goes to jail in May for committing crimes related to campaign funding and lied to Congress, said at a public hearing before a House of Representatives committee last month that " I have never asked and would not accept a thanks from President Trump ".
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Michael Cohen testifies before the House
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Michael Cohen, former personal advocate of President Donald Trump, arrives to testify before the House of Representatives' Monitoring and Reform Committee on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, February 27, 2019 in Washington. (AP Photo / Alex Brandon)
Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for US President Donald Trump, was sworn in to testify before the House Oversight and Reform Committee at the Rayburn House Building in Capitol Hill, Washington, DC on February 27, 2019. (Photo Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo credit must match JIM WATSON / AFP / Getty Images)
Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for US President Donald Trump, testifies before the House of Representatives 'House of Representatives' Monitoring and Reform Committee at the Rayburn House office building in Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, on February 27, 2019. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP ) (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN / AFP / Getty Images)
Michael Cohen, former personal advocate of US President Donald Trump, at the House Watch Committee hearing in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, February 27, 2019. Mr. Cohen intends to to report to a congressional committee allegations of offenses committed by his former boss, claiming that Trump knew in the 2016 presidential election that his ally, Roger Stone, was talking to Julian Assange of WikiLeaks about A hacked e-mail publication from the National Democratic Committee. Photographer: Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, listens to a House of Representatives Oversight Committee hearing from Michael Cohen, former personal attorney to US President Donald Trump, in Washington, DC on 27 February 2019. Cohen intends to report to a congressional committee allegations of offenses committed by his former boss, claiming that Trump knew in the 2016 presidential election that his ally, Roger Stone, was talking to Julian Assange of WikiLeaks about a pirated email publication from the Democratic National Committee. Photographer: Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Rep. Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio and a prominent member of the House's oversight committee, pauses at a hearing with Michael Cohen, former personal attorney of US President Donald Trump, Washington, DC, United States, Wednesday, February 2. 27, 2019. Cohen intends to report to a congressional committee allegations of offenses committed by his former boss, claiming that Trump knew in the 2016 presidential election that his ally, Roger Stone, was talking to Julian Assange of WikiLeaks about a release of hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee. . Photographer: Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for US President Donald Trump, testifies before the House of Representatives 'House of Representatives' Monitoring and Reform Committee at the Rayburn House office building in Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, on February 27, 2019. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP ) (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN / AFP / Getty Images)
US MP Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) listens to Michael Cohen, President Trump's attorney, testify before the House of Representatives 'House of Representatives' Rayburn House Building Representation Committee in Capitol Hill, Washington , February 27, 2019. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo credit should match JIM WATSON / AFP / Getty Images)
Michael Cohen, former personal attorney of US President Donald Trump, holds a document at a hearing of the House Oversight Committee in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, February 27, 2019. Cohen presented papers to the press. Wednesday's congressional hearing to back up his former boss is a "crook" and a "cheater" Photographer: Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg via Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 27: A copy of a check paid to Michael Cohen by President Trump is billed as Michael Cohen, former attorney and fixer of President Donald Trump testifies before the House Watch Committee on Capitol Hill on February 27, 2019 in Washington, DC. Last year, Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $ 50,000 for tax evasion, false statements to a financial institution, excessive illegal contributions to the election campaign and lying in Congress under Special investigator Robert Mueller's inquiry into the inquiry conducted by Russia Presidential elections in 2016. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)
US – FEBRUARY 27: President Elijah Cummings, D-MD, is seen at a house oversight and reform committee hearing at Rayburn Building with testimony from Michael Cohen, former presidential attorney Donald Trump, on the interference of Russia in the 2016 election of Wednesday, February 27, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call)
United States – February 27: Rep. Mark Meadows, RN.C., left, and upper member Rep. Jordan Jordan, R-Ohio, are seen during a House Oversight Committee and Reform Hearing at Rayburn Building with testimony from Michael Cohen, former President Donald Trump's lawyer, about the interference of Russia in the 2016 election of Wednesday, February 27, 2019. (Photo by Tom Williams / Roll call)
Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for US President Donald Trump, testifies before the House of Representatives 'House of Representatives' Monitoring and Reform Committee at the Rayburn House office building in Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, on February 27, 2019. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP ) (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN / AFP / Getty Images)
United States – February 27: Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Is seen at a house oversight committee hearing and reform at Rayburn Building with testimony from Michael Cohen, former President Donald Trump's attorney, on the interference of Russia in the 2016 election Wednesday, February 27, 2019. (Photo by Tom Williams / Roll call)
UNITED STATES – FEBRUARY 27: From left to right, representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DN.Y., Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., And Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., At a committee hearing House monitoring and reform in Rayburn Building presenting a testimony of Michael Cohen, former lawyer for President Donald Trump, on Russia's interference in the 2016 election on Wednesday, February 27, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call)
Michael Cohen, former US President Donald Trump's personal attorney, is seen on television at Fox News Headquarters, Newscorp Building, on 6th Avenue in New York on February 27, 2019, while the ticker tap hit the headlines while testifying before the Oversight and Reform Committee in the Rayburn House office building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC (photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo credit should be TIMOTHY A CLARY / AFP / Getty Images)
Michael Cohen, former personal attorney of US President Donald Trump, speaks at a hearing of the House Oversight Committee in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, February 27, 2019. Cohen presented papers to the press. Congressional hearing held Wednesday to support his case. the boss is a "crook" and a "cheater". Photographer: Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg via Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 27: The Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) listens to the testimony of Michael Cohen, former lawyer and mediator to President Donald Trump, before the House Oversight Committee at Capitol Hill on February 27, 2019 in Washington. Last year, Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $ 50,000 for tax evasion, false statements to a financial institution, excessive illegal contributions to the election campaign and lying in Congress under Special investigator Robert Mueller's inquiry into the inquiry conducted by Russia's 2016 presidential elections. (Photo by Alex Wong / Getty Images)
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Trump himself challenged this claim. In a tweet on Friday, Trump said that Cohen "directly asked for a pardon, I said NO, he still lied!" Cohen, in his own tweet, responded by calling the president's assertion of "new series of lies".
In Tuesday's letter, a Cohen lawyer stated that his testimony regarding the lack of a pardon application referred to the period following Cohen's decision to break with Trump in June 2018 and to leave his agreement to common defense.
"Cohen refused the opportunity to seek and obtain a pardon while he knew that he would go to jail with hardship for his family," said Cohen's attorney Michael. Monico, at the American House Monitoring and Reform Committee.
Cohen has met with congressional committees four times since his conviction, including the Feb. 27 televised hearing led by House Watch Chairman Elijah Cummings.
Representatives of Cummings, a Democrat, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter. (Report by Karen Freifeld and Mark Hosenball, written by Susan Heavey, edited by Steve Orlofsky)
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