Flynn transcripts show he is guilty

I wonder if Trump and Pence still want him back.

When you coddle Russia they attack again.

We now know Flynn minimized the last attack on the US as “this current issue of cyber stuff” TO RUSSIA in the newly revealed transcripts.

It was collusion.

It was treasonous.

And it helped lead to this:
https://t.co/gYsYDFilxb
— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) May 31, 2020

I know a fair number of GOP and apolitical natsec folks who worked with Flynn over the past decade, and they all offer the same narrative: a decent officer… and then something in him just snapped. https://t.co/4hJzzjhTVk
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) May 30, 2020

So I’ve read the transcripts. Tried to clear my head of my biases. And of the memory of my own interactions w, Flynn, which were positive. And @EliLake’s piece. And listened to the @lawfare podcast. And Eli, I gotta say…it’s not close. The FBI’s suspicions were warranted.
— Marc Ambinder (@marcambinder) May 30, 2020

I also think that getting fired by Obama – a completely legit shitcanning – just broke Flynn in some way, and from that point on, anyone that was against Obama was okay with him, whether it was Russians or Trump or both. But "traitor" is too big a word here, imo. https://t.co/ShUB8XVfRd
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) May 30, 2020

Flynn has said he does not remember talking in late 2016 with the Russian ambassador about sanctions. But the transcripts showed that the sanctions were the central discussion point between the men. https://t.co/ZlQz1QV7fd
— Adam Goldman (@adamgoldmanNYT) May 30, 2020

First principles. Whether or not Michael Flynn lied to the FBI (he did) & whether or not Bill Barr was right to kill the case (he was not), it's undeniable Flynn tried to make nice to Russia after it attacked a US election to help Trump. That's betrayal.https://t.co/rPz8ZYwOCS
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) May 30, 2020

Which just highlights how Trump has continually lied about this case. It wasn’t any American citizen that was being tapped—it was the Russians. https://t.co/tSoI3VC2MS
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) May 30, 2020

It is just impossible to read this and not believe that Flynn was acting at the direction of then president-elect Trump. https://t.co/87hmU3i7BB
— Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) May 29, 2020

Honestly I think if you read these transcripts, it’s fairly obvious that Trump and Flynn had a whole ongoing series of private conversations about Russia that Flynn never disclosed in his “cooperation” with Mueller. A major, successful duping of Mueller’s team. https://t.co/43erlS2lZc
— Jesse Lee (@JesseCharlesLee) May 30, 2020

Flynn defenders: It never happened
*it happened*
It was a routine convo
*not routine*
But he didn't lie
*he lied*
But he didn't lie about sanctions
*he lied about sanctions*
We WON! Full exoneration!
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) May 29, 2020

For what it's worth – don't @ me, bro – I don't think Flynn was or is a traitor. I think he's an unhinged ideologue with a mania for war with Iran. He was so committed to that one thing that he really believed the Russians were his pals – even as Kislyak was rolling him.
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) May 30, 2020

Russia had just committed cyber warfare on us and Flynn is begging their ambassador for mercy in this call. This is the weakest and most subservient thing I've ever seen from a U.S. Administration. https://t.co/WuXaIbsYVG
— Tim Miller (@Timodc) May 29, 2020

Flynn asks a hostile foreign country to work against the current administration of the United States of America. https://t.co/xNpeIqXR4C
— emptywheel (@emptywheel) May 29, 2020

The only thing that could be worse on these transcripts is if Flynn said "Yeah, yeah, yep" to Kislyak saying: "We'd like you to lie your ass off to everyone in DC, including in the White House, about this conversation. Can you work with us on that?"
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) May 30, 2020

So, aside from the fact that the former head of DIA was a security risk (not only by his sympathies for the Russians, but by lying and thus putting himself in the position of being compromised), there's the mystery of why this administration just burned their own guy. /1
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) May 30, 2020

The phony right wing “Unmasking” scandal

Trump and his cult are wrong again.

Congrats to every credulous pundit and reporter who pretended to believe GOP/Trump bullshit about this https://t.co/HNlvbozzcG
— Daniel Gilmore (@gilmored85) May 20, 2020

A 30 year+ veteran of the @CIA wrote this piece. You should read it.

He argues that the DNI’s unprecedented release of a list of officials who made unmasking requests has yet again politicized the IC and suggests that the intent was to create a political spectacle. https://t.co/MIuelnbv9E
— Sam Vinograd (@sam_vinograd) May 17, 2020

Why the “unmasking” requests of Michael Flynn were not improper. https://t.co/J7KPrep4bZ
— Michael Morell (@MichaelJMorell) May 17, 2020

Unmasking is a formal process. It's not a crime. It is not leaking. It's heavily regulated. And…wait for it…the Trump Administration has done it extensively.
— Kelly Magsamen (@kellymagsamen) May 13, 2020

Under US surveillance rules, unmasking an American's identity in a report derived from foreign-intelligence surveillance is routine when necessary to understand (e.g., who was the Russian ambassador talking to?). The NSA did so 10,000 times last year, nearly 17,000 times in 2018. pic.twitter.com/iThs9w15ZN
— Charlie Savage (@charlie_savage) May 13, 2020

1. This was all about wanting to leak the list from the get go. 2. I legitimately have no idea how anyone could construe this list as even remotely controversial, but I'm sure Trump & Co will find a way. https://t.co/TijP4QQXFd
— Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) May 13, 2020

"Unmasking" sounds vaguely sinister but it means intel agents flagged Flynn's suspicious contacts with Russia – which Flynn would later lie to the VP and FBI about, for some reason – and officials found out who he was, with proper approvals and through authorized channels.
— Elie Honig (@eliehonig) May 13, 2020

NEW: Grassley/Johnson have released list of Obama officials who made unmasking requests that might've IDed Flynn.

Most of the requests identified, though, came before Flynn spoke to Kislyak.https://t.co/sHiQJlw5hY
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) May 13, 2020

Under US surveillance rules, unmasking an American's identity in a report derived from foreign-intelligence surveillance is routine when necessary to understand (e.g., who was the Russian ambassador talking to?). The NSA did so 10,000 times last year, nearly 17,000 times in 2018. pic.twitter.com/iThs9w15ZN
— Charlie Savage (@charlie_savage) May 13, 2020

Obamagate is nonsense

Trump can’t even say what it is. He’s just trying to distract us from his failures.

I've been searching for the right modifier for "incompetence" to succinctly, accurately describe Trump's peculiar brand. I think @michelleinbklyn found it. "Savage." https://t.co/lI128fPoe8
— Francis Wilkinson (@fdwilkinson) May 15, 2020

Memo to news organizations. Until @realDonaldTrump can articulate the crimes committed by Obama, please can we stop covering this like a crime has been committed. There is nothing more to say until there's evidence. So far it's just a bunch of people doing their jobs.
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) May 15, 2020

—@danabrams: “Based on what we know today, this Obamagate theory is 100 percent bullshit… There isn’t an iota of evidence thus far to implicate President Obama or even any member of his inner circle, for that matter, in a crime or even wrongdoing" https://t.co/5QzHxhBqCh
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) May 15, 2020

With coverage of the “Obamagate” charade, mainstream media outlets are still privileging Trump’s lies https://t.co/8oCwaFckxM
— Media Matters (@mmfa) May 15, 2020

Trump’s latest conspiracy gambit looks even more desperate than usual. https://t.co/p92El0hyTx
— Slate (@Slate) May 15, 2020

REPORTER: The president said people should be jailed as part of Obamagate

McENANY: I never said that. Those are your words, not mine

(The whole point was that Trump said it.) pic.twitter.com/HF8XSlxIW2
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 15, 2020

Trump’s playbook on ‘Obamagate’ is extremely — and dubiously — familiarhttps://t.co/xBlzZhrH93
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) May 15, 2020

1/ 'Trump & Barr can be counted on to run the same playbook as they have before –a kernel of actual misconduct will be distorted by the Trump team and their congressional and media allies to make it look like an array of other activities that were actually legitimate appear
— Todd Gitlin (@toddgitlin) May 15, 2020

Seven days of "Obamagate": How a Flynn theory became central to the Trump reelection campaign https://t.co/vLyNwyNHc8 By @PhilipRucker, @mattzap, @costareports, and me
— Shane Harris (@shaneharris) May 15, 2020

"The point of 'Obamagate' is to try to recapture the force that propelled Trump to political prominence—questioning the legitimacy of the first black president," writes @GrahamDavidA. https://t.co/am3XZjjuKE
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) May 15, 2020

Opinion: "I didn’t want to give one ounce of breath or attention to this" says MSNBC’s Ruhle on "Obamagate" farce https://t.co/wku9cGoeIM
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 15, 2020

More on Flynn

Flynn has admitted he is guilty. He belongs in jail. Republicans are treating him like a hero. Barr is a partisan hack trying to rewrite history.

Opinion: Michael Flynn isn’t a martyr.

He’s a crook and a crackpot. https://t.co/rpKF3LDoUR
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 15, 2020

NEW: Breaking down and explaining the legally and politically complex Michael Flynn case and the issues now facing Judge Sullivan, w/ my colleague @SharonLNYT https://t.co/7SJkz7UUBA
— Charlie Savage (@charlie_savage) May 15, 2020

The Times recalls an important fact here — White House counsel Don McGahn reviewed the transcripts of Flynn’s conversations with Kislyak, and agreed he was lying https://t.co/IvzAsF19Xs
— Blake News (@blakehounshell) May 14, 2020

So it turns out that the Trump cult’s release of the unmasking requests related to Flynn suggest that Flynn was engaged in OTHER suspicious activity beyond what’s publicly known. Good work, guys. https://t.co/fK4PHKV3Eq
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) May 14, 2020

Thread: https://t.co/1tf4Fbcj5l
— Susan Glasser (@sbg1) May 14, 2020

Did Flynn lie to the FBI? Or did he lie to the court when he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI? Now that he says he is innocent, the judge would like to know. https://t.co/Na8x5vbYWi
— Greg Miller (@gregpmiller) May 14, 2020

Judge Sullivan suggesting that Flynn might be in contempt of court highlights the dilemma Flynn has created for himself.

Either he lied to the FBI, or he lied under oath to a federal judge. And both are crimes.
— Randall Eliason (@RDEliason) May 14, 2020

THREAD: What should we make of the news that Judge Sullivan has appointed retired Judge John Gleeson to present arguments in opposition to the DOJ's motion to dismiss the case against Michael Flynn?
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) May 13, 2020

Department officials reviewing the Flynn case interviewed Bill Priestap, the former head of F.B.I. counterintelligence, two days before making their extraordinary request to drop the case to Judge Emmet G. Sullivan. https://t.co/oh1Za72p3u w/@ktbenner
— Adam Goldman (@adamgoldmanNYT) May 13, 2020

It’s unprecedented that the DOJ would side with the president’s perspective on justice in such a brazen manner. https://t.co/mLVVRnKMFD
— Slate (@Slate) May 13, 2020

Translation: “Not so fast, Barr. I’m still the judge here, not you.” Good news for those of us who still care about how the Constitution protects the independent judiciary. Judge Sullivan wants to hear from genuine friends of the court. Excellent!https://t.co/7PvPM78rTH
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) May 13, 2020

Since the prosecutors have effectively joined the defense in the Flynn case, a federal judge appoints a retired judge to argue the prosecution side of the matter. ⁦@ktbenner⁩ https://t.co/gFyTnI8UlQ
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) May 14, 2020

NEW Judge who repeatedly asked Flynn if he really believed he was guilty — and Flynn insisted he was — isnt immeduately accepting DOJ decision to drop Flynn case. @hsu_spencer& me https://t.co/nEdgf246Sr
— Carol Leonnig (@CarolLeonnig) May 13, 2020

In an extraordinary development for a criminal case, a judge is letting others weigh in on the Trump administration's request to drop Michael Flynn's case https://t.co/zWtC7uk1AK
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) May 13, 2020

Trump allies view the move to withdraw charges against Flynn as a major step in exposing the Russia probe as a political hit job. Democrats fear DOJ is being weaponized ahead of an election.

The facts on Michael Flynn, the FBI, and Bill Barr’s bombshell https://t.co/yjumasyhQ0
— Zach Basu (@zacharybasu) May 12, 2020

In arguing that the case against President Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn should be dropped, the Justice Department contradicted past testimony from key officials, according to one official and a CNN analysis https://t.co/G0GmUjJCpQ
— CNN (@CNN) May 12, 2020

It would be unusual for a judge to buck a prosecution motion to dismiss – but this is an unusual, if not unprecedented, case.https://t.co/herhnQWgfM
— Randall Eliason (@RDEliason) May 12, 2020

Trump lies about Russia

Putin said in Helsinki that Russia wanted Trump to win.

This is a total lie.

US intelligence agencies, the Senate intel committee reports are consistent about this.

Russian and Putin wanted to Trump to win, and helped him him. Trump accepted the help. Every single day in the final month of the campaign. https://t.co/wfzeA1C2Fm
— S.V. Dáte (@svdate) May 14, 2020

More about the terrible Justice Department decision about Flynn

Former Fed. Judge Gleeson & 2 former justice officials: “If prosecutors attempt to dismiss a well-founded prosecution for impermissible or corrupt reasons, the people would be ill-served if a court blindly approved their dismissal request….” https://t.co/WWNzmJI3fl
— Mimi Rocah (@Mimirocah1) May 12, 2020

"They’re treating the Michael Flynn story like it's a bigger deal than the deaths of 2,000 Americans a day."@brianstelter rips "right-wing media" for extensive coverage of @GenFlynn and the Russia investigation. pic.twitter.com/I2fNW4whGY
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 10, 2020

This is significant, because DOJ’s argument for dismissing the case against Flynn relies on McCord’s words to claim that Flynn’s lies were not “material” to an ongoing FBI investigation. https://t.co/z6cjeINWXO
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) May 10, 2020

Must read: The long list of people who thought Flynn’s lies were material https://t.co/SItqAnL1V6
— Nicolle Wallace (@NicolleDWallace) May 10, 2020

“Barr’s supporting role in Trump’s war on the Mueller legacy has been clear for some time.” So has Putin’s role in undermining everything pointing to his hand in Trump’s plot to take over the presidency, though @JeffreyToobin doesn’t go there:https://t.co/x8IMgWeIdE
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) May 9, 2020

Anyone notice how Barr’s move to dismiss the case against Flynn came right after a Trump-Putin call that Trump told reporters had nailed VE-Day as a perfect time to show “what a hoax” the whole Russia investigation was? So Trump is still in bed with Vlad. Right up to his hairdo.
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) May 9, 2020

Trump: ‘I would certainly consider’ bringing Michael Flynn back to work at the White House https://t.co/gPlzWj9ObH
— Raw Story (@RawStory) May 7, 2020

REPORTER: How will history look back on your decision to drop charges against Flynn?

BILL BARR: “Well, history is written by the winners. So it largely depends on who’s writing the history.” pic.twitter.com/GVr2bIaavc
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 7, 2020

THREAD. The AG dropping the case on Flynn turns the entire purpose of the Special Counsel regs on its head. The SC is appointed *precisely* to insulate an investigation from influence by a political appointee, namely, the AG. 1/
— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) May 7, 2020

Another very highly respected DOJ attorney withdrawing from a case, this one about Michael Flynn. Something is deeply wrong. https://t.co/aPHtYWzsnp
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) May 7, 2020

No, it’s worse than that.

The DOJ doesn’t care if you lie to the FBI … as long as you’re Donald Trump‘s friend.

Everyone else is still subject to the same law that has been on the books for decades. https://t.co/D6uUls8xrd
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) May 7, 2020

Can one of my lawyer friends help me with this one cause I can't figure it out. Barr says Flynn is not liable for his actions or lies because therewasn't a crime. How do you know in advance there is not a crime until you investigate. Andhow do u investigate w/out talking to folks
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) May 9, 2020

That's a good lead, come on. pic.twitter.com/HYMsYzdhvD
— Sam Dolnick (@samdolnick) May 9, 2020

Vice President Pence: "I'd be happy" to see Michael Flynn back in the Trump administration https://t.co/6DnVbZt6en pic.twitter.com/Pds6piICKw
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 10, 2020

Michael Flynn admitted he was guilty

Trump may pardon him anyway. He belongs in jail.

Those who claim Flynn was "set up" need to answer this question: how did anything the FBI may or may not have done cause the national security advisor of the US to lie to FBI agents and lie to DOJ about his work for Turkey? #MichaelFlynn @PostOpinions https://t.co/WLiYqce8Rs
— Randall Eliason (@RDEliason) May 2, 2020

The FBI Didn’t Frame Michael Flynn. That’s Just Trump’s Excuse for a Prospective Pardon. https://t.co/Fo3qypPgXe
— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) May 2, 2020

Kellyanne Conway lies through her teeth on Fox News, claims newly released Michael Flynn documents show Flynn was "set up." This is not true. All they show is that top FBI officials knew Flynn had likely broken the law even before they interviewed him https://t.co/cnyt788opE pic.twitter.com/LSzJaTaoVl
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 1, 2020

Here are the most important facts about the case of former Trump adviser Michael Flynn, based on court filings, testimony from some of the key players, the 448-page Mueller report and analysis from respected legal experts. https://t.co/iEPMYlCMmp
— CNN (@CNN) May 1, 2020

Is Flynn victim of a political attack launched through an unconstitutional 18th century law? Or did he enter into a plea deal against the backdrop of much wider criminal behavior? The evidence still suggests the latter scenario is closer to the truth. https://t.co/d0b8aDyDh4
— David French (@DavidAFrench) May 1, 2020

“Flynn’s lawyer says new documents show that Flynn was 'set up' by the FBI. In fact, they show no such thing. But they may provide a flimsy excuse for a pardon,” writes @BarbMcQuade. https://t.co/MSoe7rMlEW
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) April 30, 2020

Pres says he may not have to pardon Gen Flynn because he'll be exonerated of charges against him due to FBI misconduct reflected in unsealed documents, which Pres calls "just disgraceful." And says he "would certainly consider" bringing Flynn back into the Administration.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 30, 2020

“I would certainly consider it,” Trump says of bringing Michael Flynn back to his administration
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) April 30, 2020

As was suggested by @AshaRangappa_ earlier, this is NOT a complicated one folks. https://t.co/5lP57Me9jg
— Greg Brower (@GregoryABrower) April 30, 2020

Very good thread https://t.co/nudVDeAVPj
— Benjamin Wittes (@benjaminwittes) April 30, 2020

Flynn was compromised, because Russia knew he had lied and therefore had leverage over him. As the NSA, he was in a position to make decisions against the interests of the U.S. Sally Yates recommended the WH remove him. The FBI’s goal is to neutralize threats against the U.S. https://t.co/IgxpC3Hfm3
— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) April 30, 2020

Did a big parse of Flynn docs:

1. They had a good idea he'd lie, cuz he already had

2. Getting someone to lie isn't a "perjury trap" if you had legit evidence (which they did)

3. On talk about getting him fired: Remember they worried he was compromisedhttps://t.co/dl0B8YnUH8
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) April 30, 2020

No one made Flynn lie. https://t.co/dShWatGCbm
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) April 30, 2020

Breaking news, Maria: He plead guiltyhttps://t.co/7tlOODuzeO https://t.co/MlGzl46eA2 pic.twitter.com/K9kfXdzXQ3
— Bad Fox Graphics (@BadFoxGraphics) April 26, 2020