President Trump said he is open to considering a pardon for Michael Cohen, his former personal attorney who later testified against him, if “everything checks out.”
Trump made the comment during a press gaggle at Joint Base Andrews. The exchange was captured on video posted by X user @Acyn on Sept. 9, 2026, and cited by Headline USA.
Asked, “Will you pardon Michael Cohen?” Trump replied, “I’ve never been asked that question,” before adding, “If everything is checking out, it’s something I’d consider.”
Cohen’s legal history
Cohen served nearly two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to eight criminal counts, including tax evasion, making false statements to a federally insured bank, and campaign finance violations. His legal troubles began during Robert Mueller’s special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to Headline USA.
Cohen went on to become a key witness in New York investigations of Trump. New York Attorney General Letitia James used his testimony in her civil lawsuit against the Trump Organization, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg relied on Cohen in the criminal case involving payments to Stormy Daniels.
Cohen’s own account
Cohen has written in a Substack post that he felt “pressured and coerced” to provide damaging information about Trump. A Sept. 4, 2026 post from the “Trump Truths” X account claimed Trump reposted that article. Cohen recently interviewed Trump on his radio show and has said publicly that he is seeking clemency.
Trump’s comment stopped short of any commitment, framing his openness as conditional on unspecified facts “checking out.” No formal pardon decision or filing has been reported. Some details in this account, including social media posts and characterizations of past statements by officials, have not been independently verified.
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