the new yo"new york times" repo that john dowd discussed the idea of mr. trump pardoning michael flynn and paul man for the with their lawyers last year if they were to be criminally charged in the special counsel's investigation. the "washington post" reports that these conversations took place last summer before manafort was charged with financial crimes and before flynn cut a deal with mueller in exchange for pleading guilty to lying to the fbi. the white house dodging questions about pardons reading a statement from the white house lawyer ty cobb. >> no pardons are under discussion or under consideration at the white house. >> reporter: dowd denies having any discussions related to pardons even after reports surfaced back in july that mr. trump was considering granting pardons to those under investigation. >> the president has even required about the ability to pardon himself. >> reporter: as recently as december, the president leaving open the possibility of pardoning flynn. >> i don't want to talk about