Donald Trump’s lawyer talked about pardoning two top former advisers as the Russian investigation was closing in, according to The New York Times.

John Dowd reportedly discussed the topic with lawyers for Michael Flynn, once the White House national security adviser, and Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman.

The conversations were said to have taken place last year as both were coming under scrutiny from Robert Mueller, the special counsel looking into Russian election meddling.

It raises the question of whether pardons were discussed to dissuade them from pleading guilty and co-operating with the investigation, thereby revealing what they saw during the campaign.

It is unclear if Mr Trump was aware of the alleged conversations, according to The New York Times. The claim was also denied by Mr Dowd himself.