Byron York has a new piece over at the Washington Examiner on the just-released sentencing memo for Michael Flynn that sheds new light on just what former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe told the former national security adviser before his interview with two FBI agents:
New: FBI recommended Michael Flynn not have lawyer present during interview, did not warn of false statement consequences. https://t.co/TOf5DS4F7s
— Byron York (@ByronYork) December 12, 2018
From York’s piece which quotes McCabe’s own memos:
McCabe, by his own account, urged Flynn to talk to the agents alone, without a lawyer present. “I explained that I thought the quickest way to get this done was to have a conversation between [Flynn] and the agents only,” McCabe wrote. “I further stated that if LTG Flynn wished to include anyone else in the meeting, like the White House counsel for instance, that I would need to involve the Department of Justice. [Flynn] stated that this would not be necessary and agreed to meet with the agents without any additional participants.”
Whoa. The narrative up until this point had been slightly different with Flynn more-or-less being offered a lawyer and him declining:
Pretty clear subtext in this Flynn sentencing memo that his lawyers think McCabe and the FBI set him up.
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) December 12, 2018
Strzok interviewed HRod with her *nine* lawyers in the room.
Strzok interviewed Flynn without the benefit of counsel and didn't even tell him it was an interview. https://t.co/Xd2IWPNfUT
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) December 12, 2018
Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti contends that this is standard procedure for the FBI:
This headline is very misleading. The sentencing memo indicates that FBI suggested Flynn could have others present, including the White House Counsel, but it would be faster to just speak to agents.
Typically the FBI doesn’t even mention the possibility of a lawyer. https://t.co/JP91cV0bxO
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) December 12, 2018
And others are suggesting that Flynn should’ve known better anyway:
I’m sorry, Michael Flynn wasn’t a lowly intern. He didn’t know, after decades of serving in the Executive Branch, that lying to the FBI is a felony? He didn’t know to have a lawyer present?
That’s criminal stupidity, not a perjury trap. https://t.co/vrqsNHVDgI
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) December 12, 2018
Flynn, Cartwright, Petraeus….there’s something about generals thinking they can buffalo a couple of lowly FBI agents.
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) December 12, 2018
Republicans are still trying to see the entire FBI 302 report that details all of this, but so far, the Justice Department is not sharing it with Congress:
One note sure to prompt GOP questions: Flynn FBI interview was Jan 24 2017. According to memo, FBI 302 report on interview is dated Aug 22 2017. Congressional investigators will want to know why there's such a long interval between interview and write-up. https://t.co/itJjLPnE2k
— Byron York (@ByronYork) December 12, 2018
The sentencing memo also detailed Flynn’s involvement with the special counsel’s office, which was extensive:
Flynn met with prosecutors 19 times over 62 hours, and turned over “sweeping categories” of documents held by his two companies plus electronic devices, lawyers said.
— Carrie Johnson (@johnson_carrie) December 12, 2018
Interesting from Flynn memo: "General Flynn has produced thousands of documents to the Department of Justice. Even before his voluntary pre-plea proffer sessions, he had chosen to produce sweeping categories of documents … and facilitated the production of electronic devices."
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 12, 2018
Flynn is asking the judge for probation and 200 hours of community service, no jail time:
Michael Flynn's attorneys have asked a federal judge to spare Flynn a jail sentence and to sentence him to probation with minimal supervision and 200 hours of community service. —@NBCPolitics
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 12, 2018
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Related:
Popehat brings the HYPE for Robert Mueller’s sentencing recommendation for Michael Flynn https://t.co/dLrHOLOJz4
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 5, 2018
OK, bye: Brian Ross leaving ABC News in wake of botched Michael Flynn report https://t.co/H3brYLzVhG
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 2, 2018
Gen. Michael Flynn briefly returns to Twitter to dunk on Harvey Weinstein, Huma Abedin and Hillary Clinton https://t.co/j6u9uuIam2
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) May 25, 2018
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