Trump says ex-lawyer Cohen asked him for a pardon, but he said no

Michael Cohen, the former personal attorney of U.S. President Donald Trump, pauses while speaking to reporters as he departs after testifying before a closed House Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 6, 2019. REUTERS/Jim Young

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who has since turned against him and pleaded guilty to multiple crimes, had asked him directly for a pardon but was rejected.

"Bad lawyer and fraudster Michael Cohen said under sworn testimony that he never asked for a Pardon. His lawyers totally contradicted him. He lied!," Trump tweeted. "Additionally, he directly asked me for a pardon. I said NO."

(Reporting by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Susan Heavey)