Avenatti: Cohen should sign a public statement vowing not to accept a pardon from Trump

Michael Avenatti on Wednesday called for President Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to sign a public statement vowing not to accept a pardon from Trump.

{mosads}Avenatti, who is representing adult-film star Stormy Daniels in her libel lawsuit against Cohen and Trump, tweeted the comment in response to an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America” by Cohen’s lawyer, Lanny Davis.

“Lanny Davis went on [Good Morning America] and stated Michael Cohen does not want a pardon,” Avenatti tweeted. “If true, Cohen should sign a statement this morning stating he will not under any circumstances accept a pardon from Mr. Trump and release it publicly. If he refuses to do this, it is telling.”

Lanny Davis went on @GMA and stated Michael Cohen does not want a pardon. If true, Cohen should sign a statement this morning stating he will not under any circumstances accept a pardon from Mr. Trump and release it publicly. If he refuses to do this, it is telling. #Basta

— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 25, 2018

Davis insisted Wednesday that Cohen, who is under criminal investigation in New York, is not seeking a pardon from Trump.

“Michael Cohen has turned a corner in his life, and he’s now dedicated to telling the truth to everyone,” said Davis, who is a columnist for The Hill.

FULL INTERVIEW: Michael Cohen’s attorney, Lanny Davis, one-on-one with @GStephanopoulos; says there are “certainly” more tapes, and that Michael Cohen is not seeking a pardon from the President: https://t.co/m55qCWk199 pic.twitter.com/UXZPHIad1X

— Good Morning America (@GMA) July 25, 2018

Avenatti has accused Cohen of “aiming for a pardon,” and has repeatedly called on Cohen to release possible other tapes.

“What he’s saying about Mr. Cohen is not true,” Davis said. “It’s part of a litigation attack and it happens between lawyers.”

The White House earlier this year refused to rule out the possibility that Trump would pardon Cohen.

Davis spoke to George Stephanopoulos early Wednesday about his client’s secret recording of the president, which was aired on CNN on Tuesday night. In the tape, Trump can be heard discussing a payment to a former Playboy model who alleges that she had an affair with him.

Daniels also claims she had an affair with Trump, and is suing to void a nondisclosure agreement.

Cohen is currently under investigation for alleged financial crimes, and prosecutors are looking into the $130,000 payment to Daniels that Cohen arranged days before the 2016 election.

Cohen’s tape appears to reveal that Trump knew about the proposed payment to Karen McDougal, raising questions about whether he also knew about the payment to Daniels, which he has repeatedly denied.

Trump has criticized Cohen for the tapes, calling it “so sad” that a lawyer would secretly record his own client.