House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) claimed the Department of Justice’s decision to drop criminal charges against retired Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn on Thursday does not exonerate the former Trump national security advisor, but rather incriminates Attorney General William Barr.
“Flynn pled guilty to lying to the FBI about his illicit Russian contacts. His lies do not now become truths,” Schiff wrote on Twitter. “This dismissal does not exonerate him. But it does incriminate Bill Barr.”
“In the worst politicization of the Justice Department in its history,” the California Democrat added.
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.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) May 7, 2020
Earlier Thursday, the Justice Department moved to drop its case against Flynn for charges of making false statements to the FBI about his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak ahead of President Trump taking office. In 2017, the longtime military man pleaded guilty in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation and agreed to cooperate with the DOJ, but eventually withdrew his plea, citing prosecuting breaking their agreement to not recommend prison time.
Israel First? MAGA divide erupts over allegations Netanyahu pushed US into Iran conflict
Iran retaliation fears fail to move Democrats on DHS shutdown
Lindsey Graham already moves on from Iran, warns ‘Cuba is next’
Nancy Mace to force vote targeting fellow GOP lawmaker accused of affair with staffer
Trump says ‘losers’ Schumer, Dems would have criticized any decision he made on Iran
Watch: Grateful Kuwaiti Rushes to Help Downed US Pilot, While Leftist Woman Wishes Death to Military Service Members
BREAKING: Black Smoke Rises as New US Consulate Compound Hit by Iranian Strike
Cincinnati mayor opposes judge’s move to grant bail to convicted felon linked to mass shooting gun battle
Austin bar shooting victims named as FBI investigates potential terrorism nexus
State Department deploying military aircraft to evacuate US citizens from Middle East
Michigan Democrats appear hesitant to expand early voting when it could help GOP in state race
Democrat in key Senate primary says she ‘regrets’ vote on Laken Riley Act, draws GOP backlash
Iranian Women’s Soccer Team Performs Silent Protest Amid Bombings: ‘This Is Courage’
State Department has helped over 130 Americans evacuate Israel during war with Iran, official says
BREAKING: Israel Has Reportedly Attacked Tehran Mehrabad Airport as ‘Operation Epic Fury’ Continues
“Through the course of my review of General Flynn’s case, I concluded the proper and just course was to dismiss the case,” Jeffrey Jensen, the U.S. attorney that Barr recruited to review Flynn’s case, said in a statement. “I briefed Attorney General Barr on my findings, advised him on these conclusions, and he agreed.”
Speaking to CBS News, Barr defended the decision to drop the charges against Flynn, saying he was “doing the law’s bidding’
“A crime cannot be established here. They did not have a basis for a counterintelligence investigation against Flynn at that stage,” Barr said in reference to the FBI.
“People sometimes plead to things that turn out not to be crimes,” the chief law enforcement official added.
Story cited here.
