Several reports indicate that, at some point between now and Inauguration Day, President Donald Trump will pardon former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.
Axios was the first outlet to report this story. The outlet writes: “Sources with direct knowledge of the discussions said Flynn will be part of a series of pardons that Trump issues between now and when he leaves office.”
Since then, a number of other outlets have confirmed Axios’ report, including Fox News. “Sources with knowledge of the president’s thinking also told Fox News he plans to pardon Flynn,” Fox reports.
This comes, according to Reuters, after President Trump in March “said he was strongly considering a full pardon for Flynn. He said the FBI and Justice Department had ‘destroyed’ Flynn’s life and that of his family.”
It’s true
In many ways, the case of Flynn epitomizes what some Republicans would refer to as the workings of the “deep state.”
Flynn has pled guilty to lying to the FBI during an interview that took place in 2017 about conversations that he had with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Since then, however, Flynn has been looking to rescind his guilty plea.
That’s because several important pieces of information have come to light.
One is that the FBI was actually going to close its investigation into Flynn, having found no evidence of wrongdoing, when anti-Trump agent Peter Strzok convinced his higher-ups to keep the investigation going. Another is that the FBI went into the 2017 interview with Flynn with the expressed purpose of trapping Flynn in a lie. And still, another is that the FBI, after that interview, did not even believe that Flynn intentionally lied.
The Department of Justice, after this information came out, attempted to dismiss the case against Flynn. But, D.C. District Judge Emmet Sullivan has insisted that the case against Flynn continue.
Flynn has still not been allowed to withdraw his guilty plea.
Looking forward
It ought to be noted that, in September, Flynn’s lawyer, Sidney Powell, revealed that she spoke with President Trump and asked him not to pardon Flynn. Why Powell has made this request has never been made clear. But, it could play a role in President Trump’s decision-making.
Axios reports that Flynn’s pardon will be “one in a series.” Fox has made a similar statement. Neither outlet, however, has reported who else the president might pardon.
The post Report: Pres. Trump is considering a pardon for Flynn first appeared on Conservative Institute.
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