A dramatic development in the investigation of Russia in the United States. The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday withdrew the charges against a former Donald Trump adviser, Michael Flynn, who was prosecuted for lying about his contacts with a Russian diplomat. The President welcomed the move, saying Flynn had been the victim of an FBI plot, but Democrats accused the White House of "politicizing" the Department of Justice.
The ministry found that the investigation against the 61-year-old former general had no "legitimate basis" and that his statements "even if they were false, do not matter", according to court documents .
My grandson Travis ... “and JUSTICE for ALL” ⚖️❤️🙏🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/IuOGugjOC3
- General Flynn (@GenFlynn) May 7, 2020"Targeted to try to make me fall"
The Republican President immediately welcomed the decision. Michael Flynn "was innocent," he told reporters from the White House. "He was targeted just to try to bring me down," added Donald Trump.
Yesterday was a BIG day for Justice in the USA. Congratulations to General Flynn, and many others. I do believe there is MUCH more to come! Dirty Cops and Crooked Politicians do not go well together!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 8, 2020The New York billionaire has always believed that the investigation into suspicions of collusion between Moscow and his campaign team during the 2016 presidential election was a "witch hunt" orchestrated by his opponents. However, Michael Flynn was the first member of his entourage to be worried in the context of this sprawling investigation.
After taking part in Donald Trump's campaign, the former general had confidential discussions with the Russian ambassador to Washington, Sergei Kisliak in December 2016. Having become a National Security adviser, he was interrogated on January 24, 2017 by the federal police but he had concealed these contacts. He quickly had to resign for also lying to Vice President Mike Pence. In 2017 Michael Flynn agreed to plead guilty to perjury and to cooperate with the Russian investigation.
"What is your goal? Admission of the truth or making it lie "
Last year, threatened with a six-month prison sentence, he changed lawyers and defense strategy. He had since requested the cancellation of the procedure, presenting himself as a victim of manipulation.
His lawyers had recently filed notes with an FBI official advising investigators on how to conduct the interview with General Flynn. "What is your goal? Admitting the truth or making it lie so that we can prosecute it or push it to resign? Wrote this unidentified agent. Police experts say this is a classic strategy for dealing with a suspect, but Michael Flynn's defenders saw it as evidence of a set-up.
"Parody of Justice"
The Department of Justice, led by one of the President's staunchest supporters, Bill Barr, abounded in their favor. "His interview was not justified," he said to justify withdrawing the charges. But several voices were immediately raised, especially in the Democratic ranks, to condemn a "travesty of justice". Withdrawal of the charge file "does not whitewash" Michael Flynn, but "incriminates Bill Barr: the Ministry of Justice has never been so politicized," tweeted the elected democrat Adam Schiff who chairs the intelligence commission of representatives room.
Flynn pled guilty to lying to the FBI about his illicit Russian contacts.
His lies do not now become truths.
This dismissal does not exonerate him.
But it does incriminate Bill Barr.
In the worst politicization of the Justice Department in its history.
"The Department of Justice is on the wrong track," said former FBI director James Comey, urging FBI agents not to leave the ship.
- World