MONICO SPEVACK

ATTORNEYS AT LAW
MCHAEL D. MONICO 20 SOUTH CLARK STREET
BARRYA. SPEVACK SUITE 700
JACQUELINE S. JACOBSON CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603
CARLY A. CHOCRON (312) 732-8500

FAX (312) 759-2000

March 12, 2019

The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings, Chairman
Committee on Oversight and Reform

United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Cummings:

Since Mr. Cohen?s open testimony before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday,
February 27, 2019, questions have been raised about a sentence in Mr. Cohen?s opening statement:

And I have never asked for, nor would I accept, a pardon from President Trump."

In retrospect, While the sentence could have been clearer regarding the time frames, the
sentence is true, and Mr. Cohen stands by his statement.

The sentence was written in the context of Mr. Cohen?s decision in June 2018 to leave the
Trump Joint Defense Agreement (the and to tell the truth. Further, Mr. Cohen rejected the
opportunity to ask for and receive a pardon even though he knew he was going to prison with
hardships to his family.

In contrast, when Mr. Cohen was previously a member of the Trump joint defense team,
President Trump publicly dangled the possibility of pardons when commenting about ongoing
investigations. With that in mind, as a past member of the joint defense team, Mr. Cohen asked his
then attorney to discuss with another Trump attorney possible pardon options consistent with the
President's prior public declarations. Nothing ever happened.

At no time did Mr. Cohen personally ask President Trump for a pardon or did the President
offer Mr. Cohen the same. In retrospect the above sentence in his testimony could have been
clearer and more complete regarding the distinction between the pre-JDA and post-JDA time

periods.

Sincerely yours,

21* (7 WU gig?WM?? 
EileIMonico