Tag: Flynn guilty plea

How Flynn’s guilty plea could upend American politics

The following article by James Pindell was posted on the Boston Globe website December 1, 2017:

Following the news related to the Trump-Russia investigations can be difficult. There are multiple investigations into Russia’s meddling with the last presidential election on behalf of the president. There is a big cast of players. It can be hard to discern whether the latest piece of news is a big deal or a small piece of string that might end up going nowhere.

But the news Friday that Trump’s former confidant and national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about contacts with the Russian ambassador is an extremely big deal. This development directly puts Trump in legal jeopardy. It could also upend the midterm election and influence redistricting battles that will reshape Congress and statehouses nationwide. Continue reading “How Flynn’s guilty plea could upend American politics”

Robert Mueller just penetrated the White House gates with Michael Flynn’s guilty plea

The following article by Aaron Blake was posted on the Washington Post website December 1, 2017:

Paul Manafort? He “played a very limited role for a very limited amount of time” on the Trump campaign. The charges against him? They have “nothing to do with the president.”

George Papadopoulos? Just a low-level “volunteer” for the campaign who wasn’t even worth remembering for both President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

These were credulity-straining defenses offered by the White House in the face of charges against Manafort and Papadopoulos. But they’re not going to work now that former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

In Flynn, we have someone who not only actually served in the White House, but someone for whom Trump clearly maintained a huge affinity even after being forced to fire him. Trump has reportedly rued the day that Flynn forced himself out by misrepresenting his contacts with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak — contacts that are at the heart of his guilty plea — and even sought leniency for Flynn from then-FBI Director James B. Comey. While Trump has signaled he might go to war with Manafort, he has handled Flynn with kid gloves from Day One. The polar opposite approaches have been striking. Continue reading “Robert Mueller just penetrated the White House gates with Michael Flynn’s guilty plea”

This is why Flynn’s guilty plea should terrify Trump

The following article by Casey Michel was posted on the ThinkProgress website December 1, 2017:

Michael Flynn has plead guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials. Credit: AP/Ssusan Walsh

From the earliest days of the Donald Trump administration, one question has hung in the background: Who directed Michael Flynn, Trump’s disgraced former national security adviser, to discuss Russia sanctions with then-Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak during the final days of Barack Obama’s presidency?

We still don’t know the answer. But we might be about to find out.

On Friday, Flynn pleaded guilty for lying to the FBI about the content of his December 29, 2016, phone call with Kislyak. As the Washington Post noted, Flynn’s guilty plea shows that “he is cooperating in the ongoing probe of possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.”

ABC News further reports that Flynn appears willing to cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team in its ongoing investigation into potential collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. Per ABC, Flynn is “prepared to testify that that [then-candidate Trump] ordered him to make contact with the Russians, which contradicts all that Donald Trump has said at this point.” Continue reading “This is why Flynn’s guilty plea should terrify Trump”

Michael Flynn pleads guilty to lying to FBI on contacts with Russian ambassador

The following article by Carol D. Leonnig, Adam Entous, Devlin Barrett and Matt Zapotosky was posted on the Washington Post website December 1, 2017:

Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty on Dec. 1 to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty Friday to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and, in an ominous sign for the White House, said he is cooperating in the ongoing probe of possible coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin to influence the 2016 election.

When Flynn was forced out of the White House in February, officials said he had misled the administration, including Vice President Pence, about his contacts with Kislyak. But court records and people familiar with the contacts indicated he was acting in consultation with senior Trump transition officials, including President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in his dealings with the diplomat. Continue reading “Michael Flynn pleads guilty to lying to FBI on contacts with Russian ambassador”