Day 309: Mueller is Playing Chess and Flynn is His Pawn
Robert Mueller’s investigation is getting more interesting by the day.
Just weeks after indicting Donald Trump cronies Paul Manafort and Richard Gates, and disclosing that a cooperation agreement had been made with Trump aide George Papadopoulos, Trump seems to have his sights set on former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, likely as bait for even bigger fish.
Defense lawyers often work together under a joint defense agreement, wherein they agree to share information to work together to increase brainpower and conserve resources. According to The New York Times, lawyers for Flynn have recently told lawyers for Trump that they can no longer do that.
Such an action is indicative that the two sides are no longer working towards the same goal. Ethically, lawyers will only share information with those in similar positions with similar objectives.
In other words, while Trump and his team continue to deny all things Russia-related, Flynn’s lawyers appear ready to play ball with Mueller. If Flynn was still on the denial train, there would be no reason for the divorce between the parties.
Former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara weighed in on Twitter.
Flynn could be staring down the barrel of state-level charges that are unpardonable or could seek to protect his son who can also be facing decades in prison. If he’s cooperating, there aren’t many people higher up the food chain than the National Security Advisor. One of the few people who is bigger fish sits in the Oval Office.
Problematic for Trump is the idea that Trump pardoning Flynn for any federal crimes would bolster Mueller’s obstruction of justice investigation into Trump since Trump told former FBI Director James Comey, “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.” A pardon would align with Trump’s words to Comey that Flynn should not be punished for any wrongdoing.
Back on Day 71, it appeared Flynn was seeking to flip for immunity. While full immunity is probably off the table, on Day 309, there is the clearest sign yet that Mueller is closing in and Flynn is cooperating with his investigation.
309 days in, 1153 to go
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