Trump claims Michael Flynn is being “exonerated” and victim of “dirty cops” in Oval Office
During today’s White House press conference, President Trump abruptly announced that his disgrace ex-National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was in the process of “being exonerated” and then leveled some outrageous claims at the Federal Bureau of Investigation — that they had been trying to “force” Flynn to lie to them in order to entrap him.
“He’s in the process of being exonerated. That [note] is total exoneration. When you read the notes, how could you do anything else?” said Trump to reporters this morning. He went on to complain that Flynn was a victim of “dirty cops:”
“These were dirty, filthy cops at the top of the FBI, and you know the names better than I do. And they were dishonest people. Gen. Flynn is a fine man. You don’t get to where he is by being bad. The dirty cops came in.”
Trump claims the newly released Michael Flynn documents show that the FBI was "trying to force him to lie." They show no such thing — all they show is that agents deliberated how aggressively to confront Flynn about contacts with Russia that he later lied about. pic.twitter.com/DR23F6WJql
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2020
Newly unsealed FBI documents last night fired a shot of adrenaline into the right-wing conspiracy industry, which immediately shifted from blaming China for COVID-19 to howling about the impropriety of the FBI’s efforts to get known criminals to admit to their crimes.
The former Trump campaign advisor who briefly held the role of NSA was indicted in February 2019 for lying to FBI agents about his secret communications with Russian diplomats prior to the inauguration of Donald Trump, the discovery of which led to the firing of acting Attorney General Sally Yates and the beginning of the Trump-Russia investigation.
Of course, the latest “bombshell” is nothing of the sort — just more meat to feed the President and his fans’ victim complexes.
Nor do Flynn documents show a “perjury trap,” which is where no legitimate investigative purpose exists for questioning. IG found FBI’s Russia probe was properly predicated. Flynn had told Russia to ignore US sanctions! FBI had legitimate purpose and even duty to ask him about it
— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) April 30, 2020
Flynn documents also do not amount to entrapment, which occurs when someone’s will is overborne by law enforcement, such as when an undercover officer offers you a chance to make so much money you can’t resist, even though you know it’s illegal. That’s not what happened here.
— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) April 30, 2020
So what’s all the fuss about? The documents may give Trump just enough ammunition to smear the FBI and falsely justify a pardon for Flynn.
— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) April 30, 2020
Flynn pled guilty to the charges two years ago but still has not been sentenced; he recently fired his lawyers and attempted to withdraw his “guilty” plea, prompting a cancellation of his sentencing hearing.
