{
  "id": 6485940,
  "title": "Trump says he would consider pardon for former attorney Michael Cohen",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/trump-says-he-would-consider-pardon-for-former-attorney-michael-cohen",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T22:03:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian US",
    "slug": "the-guardian-us",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/09/trump-pardon-michael-cohen"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, who once called Trump a “rat,” has not personally requested a presidential pardon, according to Cohen himself. However, Cohen submitted a pardon application to the White House after his request was denied by the Biden administration. During an interview with CNN last month, Cohen stated he had not personally asked Trump for a pardon but had submitted a pardon application after being denied one by the Biden administration. Despite his past criticism of Trump, Cohen recently appeared on Cohen's radio show and expressed appreciation for the president's late reconciliation. Trump's comments on Wednesday indicated he would consider pardoning Cohen \"if everything is checking out.\" This follows a recent public reconciliation between the two, which began with Trump joining Cohen's radio show. In the past, Cohen was one of Trump's most loyal defenders during the 2016 presidential election, working as his personal lawyer and fixer. However, Cohen pleaded guilty to federal crimes in 2018, including lying under oath to Congress, and served over a year in prison. Cohen has since emerged as a key witness in Trump's criminal trial in New York, where he testified about the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels and acknowledged he might have referred to Trump as a \"Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain\" and a \"boorish cartoon misogynist.\" A presidential pardon could potentially absolve Cohen of some of the federal consequences of his past convictions.",
  "summary": "Cohen has not personally asked Trump for a pardon, but he submitted an application to the White House after his request was denied by the Biden administration Donald Trump on Wednesday said he would consider pardoning Michael Cohen, the former fixer whom he once branded a “rat” for testifying against him in court and before Congress, but with whom he has recently staged a stunning public…",
  "key_points": [
    "Michael Cohen, former Trump attorney, submitted pardon application",
    "Cohen expressed appreciation for Trump's late reconciliation",
    "Trump said he would consider pardoning Cohen under certain conditions"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CBC Canada",
        "title": "Ottawa city council to consider motion to rename Trump Avenue",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/ottawa-city-council-to-consider-motion-to-rename-trump-avenue",
        "published": "2026-09-09T14:48:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}