AP: Run-up to Flynn sentencing tinged with unexpected drama

[spanone]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael Flynn may have given extraordinary cooperation to prosecutors, but the run-up to his sentencing hearing Tuesday has exposed raw tensions over an FBI interview in which the former national security adviser lied about his Russian contacts.

Flynn’s lawyers have suggested that investigators discouraged him from having an attorney present during the January 2017 interview and never informed him it was a crime to lie. Prosecutors shot back, “He does not need to be warned it is a crime to lie to federal agents to know the importance of telling them the truth.”


The mere insinuation of underhanded tactics was startling given the seemingly productive relationship between the two sides, and it was especially striking since prosecutors with special counsel Robert Mueller’s office have praised Flynn’s cooperation and recommended against prison time. The defense arguments spurred speculation that Flynn may be trying to get sympathy from President Donald Trump or may be playing to a judge known for a zero-tolerance view of government misconduct.

“It’s an attempt, I think, to perhaps characterize Flynn as a victim or perhaps to make him look sympathetic in the eyes of a judge — and, at the same time, to portray the special counsel in a negative light,” said former federal prosecutor Jimmy Gurule, a University of Notre Dame law school professor.

https://www.apnews.com/15b30b10dbef4813a462ab7164f344e2

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. What planet do you have to live on

to think lying to Federal investigators is not illegal?

[empedocles]

2. Something about this Flynn business.

No prison time. Mueller didn't save the most serious crimes in his indictment - that's not carelessness. Flynn with major far right support, more than any other criminal in this case. Flynn's speeches after his plea, to rw groups, funny business against the FBI last few days].

[Feel more uneasy about Flynn than any other character in this case. Cohen, Manafort, trump, all gangster wannabe's who are in the net. I certainly could be wrong, and a reasonable explanation will come out].

[matt819]

3. It's like that old Steve Martin joke

Steve: you can be a millionaire and not pay taxes.

Me: Steve, how can I be a millionaire and not pay taxes?

Steve: First, get $1 million. Second, don’t pay taxes.

Me: But Steve, What do I say when the IRS wants their taxes.

Steve: You tell them, I forgot.

I do not recall meeting with Russian intelligence officers.

I met with Russian intelligence officers but didn’t know it was a crime. Even though I was the head of the DIA.

I Did not lie to the FBI about meeting Russian intelligence officers.

I lied to the FBI, but I didn’t know it was a crime.

I really don’t care what Flynn told Moeller. He should get the maximum penalty along with a gag order.

[spanone]

4. Hey Mike, you already pleaded guilty. STFU.

[Jersey Devil]

5. I can't believe this stupid tactic by Flynn's lawyers

The Prosecutor does not oppose a non-jail sentence, so they decide to proceed by pissing off the prosecutor who has just recommended a light sentence. Sheesh, even a kid just out of law school should be smarter than that.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

6. duh

From the article:

“A sitting National Security (Adviser), former head of an intelligence agency, retired Lieutenant General, and 33-year veteran of the armed forces knows he should not lie to federal agents,” prosecutors wrote.

They're all crying the same song, from Dirty Donnie to Flynn, Jerome, and Stone.

[UniteFightBack]

7. Flynn also stated in his disgusting lock her up speech that he knows more about this 'business' than

anybody and if he had done a 10th of what Hillary Clinton had done he would be in jail right now.

So he knows damn full well that lying to any law enforcement officer is a crime.