Posted on 05/07/2020 1:44:50 PM PDT by jazusamo
The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee demanded answers from Attorney General William Barr over the Justice Department’s decision to drop criminal charges against President Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) said the “outrageous” move called for an “immediate explanation.” He added the House Judiciary Committee, which he chairs, would summon Barr to the Capitol as soon as possible, after a March hearing with the attorney general was postponed due to the pandemic.
“Rest assured, we are going to reschedule that hearing, ASAP, and demand answers!” Nadler said on Twitter.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday its intent to drop the criminal case against Flynn, a former Trump national security adviser who had previously pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia during the presidential transition. Flynn later withdrew from his plea agreement.
Nadler said the DOJ’s move demonstrated the politicization of the top federal law enforcement agency under Trump.
“Flynn PLEADED GUILTY to lying to investigators,” Nadler also said on Twitter. “The evidence against him is overwhelming. Now, a politicized DOJ is dropping the case.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, said the decision reflected “the worst politicization of the Justice Department in its history.”
“Flynn pled guilty to lying to the FBI about his illicit Russian contacts. His lies do not now become truths,” Schiff said in a tweet. “This dismissal does not exonerate him. But it does incriminate Bill Barr.”
In a court filing Thursday, the DOJ said newly uncovered FBI documents showed the investigation into Flynn was handled improperly and revealed that agents had misgivings about whether they believed Flynn had lied during his interview.
DOJ lawyers told the court that the FBI had initially moved to close the investigation in 2016 after finding a lack of evidence, but that the case remained open by mistake.
Flynn would later provide agents a description of a conversation he had with a Russian diplomat in the weeks before Trump's inauguration that prosecutors considered to be false and misleading, leading to Flynn’s guilty plea.
Some legal experts expressed dismay over the department’s change in course.
“It is highly unusual to dismiss a case after a defendant has pleaded guilty in open court,” said Barbara McQuade, a law professor at Michigan University and former federal prosecutor. “There is nothing in the public record to justify this dismissal.”
For once I agree with Nadler. I would love to see that hearing. Barr will crush them in any tête-à-tête.
Chuckle You just gotta laugh at the sheer nerve of Nadler and Schiff.
I am not even going to waste my time replying them.
Schiff is too lazy to read the filing and hopes everyone else is too.
One question—what about the motivation of the departing administration in dropping stink-bomb sanctions before leaving? That was an overtly political act designed to harm foreign relations with the new administration. It also helped set up the narrative that Trump colluded with the Russians, something they knew to be untrue. Obama must have been directly involved in the sanctions decision.
Dropping charges against Flynn is a gOod start but there’s a lot left to unpack.
Felony crimes were committed by the FBI, friend. Not misconduct.
“Flynn PLEADED GUILTY to lying to investigators,” Nadler also said on Twitter. “The evidence against him is overwhelming. Now, a politicized DOJ is dropping the case.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, said the decision reflected “the worst politicization of the Justice Department in its history.”
The hypocrisy is just breathtaking, isn’t it? L...M...A...O.
I want to see Barr go to testify and then tell Nadler and Schiff that part of the explanation is that Nadler and Schiff will be prosecuted for conspiracy to obstruct the Executive Branch from performing its Constitutional responsibilities.
Nadler and Schiff are going to have more things to worry about (for themselves, and the part they played on the soft coup).
If there’s still justice in this nation, we’d see lots of people in jail. Soon.
Was surprised to hear Judge Napalatino praise the dismissal of the case. He even pointed out it was improperly predicated, and can NOT be relitigated!
The headline: This is RICH. They are expecting the MSM to go off on their (Nadler & Shiff) feigned “outrage” about this, and what a miscarriage of justice is being done.
This is laughable. But, I don’t doubt the MSM will be demanding impeachment of Barr and others, very soon.
Right on! :^)
Heh. The Nadler and Schiff reactions read like Babylon Bee.
They know the press will hide the contents of the Motion to Dismiss.
I guess old nadler didn’t read the doj request for dismissal, its all explained there
FU JN!
Let me trot-out the CYA statement used by every Democrat administration when a controversial decision about a prosecution gets made: The ultimate decision was made on the recommendation of “Career Prosecutors” (you’re not supposed to question the politics or objectivity of those guys/gals).
Hey Nadless, invite AG. Barr over for a chat. He’ll eat your lunch for you. Again.
Tell the “leading Democrats” to go pound sand.
Stomp feet! Stomp feet! Stomp feet! Be careful Jerry; you know what happened to Rumplestiltskin.
Dems are going to huff and puff today for their base but I guarantee you they do not want a deep dive into L’Affair Flynn. Flynn’s prosecution has served its purpose for the Deep State. They are on to other issues now. The Dems will quietly back away from the issue and the GOP Senate/DOJ/Judge Sullivan will note pursue FBI/DOJ criminality substantively.
Explanation: The DOJ (executive branch) has all authority to do as it pleases with regard to federal prosecutions.
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