The New York Times is reporting that President Trump’s former lawyer John Dowd repeatedly floated the idea of pardoning Trump’s former top advisers Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort, who are both under investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. Critics say the idea of the potential pardons could interfere with Mueller’s investigation, making the two men less likely to cooperate with the special counsel if they know Trump will pardon them if they face charges for refusing to cooperate. The New York Times reports legal experts are divided about whether such offers might constitute obstruction of justice.