There is a noticeable pattern in the Trump team’s public strategy in addressing the very deep trouble they find themselves in thanks to the work of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. First, deny that anything happened. Second, admit that it may have happened, but it’s not a crime. Third, point at the accusers and insist they’ve done worse.
After the release of Mueller’s sentencing memo for Trump’s former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, Trump’s attorney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani went directly into phase two. Phase one ended two years ago when Flynn pled guilty to lying to the FBI.
Giuliani told Fox News, the only “news” that still considers him a credible source for anything:
‘They are sick puppies. This whole thing started as an orchestrated attempt to take the president out of office as an insurance policy.’
Just as Trump once tried to claim that his former attorney and “fixer,” Michael Cohen, had pled guilty to a crime that wasn’t even a crime, Giuliani is now insisting that Flynn’s crimes really aren’t crimes, or not crimes of any substance, at all. Somehow, he’s been hypnotized by Mueller to believe that he could have received actual prison time for committing a minor offense.
Jared Kushner’s name isn’t in the heavily-redacted sentencing memo Mueller filed for Michael Flynn, but he was involved in some of the things that got Flynn in trouble. My column on why Kushner — and Trump — might have reason to worry: https://t.co/27cPm5p1pk
— Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) December 5, 2018
Lying to the FBI is a federal crime and Gen. Flynn pled guilty to that crime. While it is not known at this time what additional charges Mueller may be able to prove against him, it is most likely that there is evidence of Flynn acting as a lobbyist for a foreign country without registering. That’s not a minor crime at all.
Two roads diverged… Flynn took one (right), Manafort the other (wrong). And that has made all the difference (for them, and Trump). https://t.co/RcxQ0Lls1U
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) December 5, 2018
According to the Justice Department, it’s a crime that carries a penalty of up to five years and a fine of $10,000. There’s nothing “sick” about pursuing justice. Flynn should be held accountable no matter how much President Trump and his lawyers want him to just go away.
Featured image screenshot via YouTube
