This is seems to be a horror to Liberals now...Yet for 8 years it was a noting burger. I guess Obama telling Putin wait until after the elections was a nothing burger too...
What hypocrites. Trump is the only thing standing in the way of a totalitarian state run by political and business elitists..
1
everything you need to know about sanctimonious hypocritical partisan "Ben Ghazi Gowdy" is the revelation that he secretly settled a suit brought by a former employee with tax-payer dollars from the House slush fund for such matters.
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/362879-benghazi-committee-used-taxpaye...
4
Flynn just confirms that Trump and the GOP see political power as a cash cow.
2
Am I the only one confused as to why the Middle East, the region of oil and sun, would want to deal with nuclear power plants for energy production?
I think there is something more sinister with "nuclear" going on.
2
I'm quite sure if Mr Trump and Mr Flynn were to hold a private conversation with any NYTime's reader, they would say, "What's the big deal?
"This is how business is done. A bribe here, a perk there. Everyone gets a cut..."
In 15th century Italy, as very rich families flaunted their wealth as a matter of course, the Vatican copied them. The house that Peter built grew corrupt. America's generals and bureaucrats are not wealthy, but they rub shoulders with the wealthy. It is only natural they would copy the behavior and style.
The US Senate is not packed with very wealthy people by chance.
1
Flynn promised the Russians to end sanctions if Trump was elected. The Russians interfered with the election in favor of Trump. This is tit for tat. The definition of bribery. They were exchanging political influence for monetary gain. Except this wasn't between a congressman and a US businessman. This was between an unfriendly foreign state and a con man. Our politicians are corrupt and we elected them. How corrupt has the electorate become to stand for this?
5
Yawn... All the sudden it's a high crime and misdemeanor for anyone separated from Trump buy no less than six degrees to have had a conversation with another person.
1
It's a conversation about a policy matter (end of sanctions) that he illegally worked with Russia on before Trump was president and then lied to the FBI about it.
1
Why hasn't Cummings gone through Mueller?
Okay, what this shows, provided the information proves to be accurate, is that Mr. Flynn had a personal incentive to see that sanctions were removed. It does not prove that Trump had some secret arrangement with Russia that would include lifting of these sanctions. All that is assumed by people who want something damaging to exist out of intense hatred of Trump. Neither does any of this provide any evidence of what this whole investigation was supposed to be about in the first place - that Trump colluded with Russia to rig the election in his favor. Sounds like Flynn supported sanctions removal, in part or in whole, because he would profit from it. There are some serious ethical questions about Flynn here, but I do not see any illegality nor do I see any direct connection to Trump. But keep fishing!
In engineering and in science, the development of something new is a long process. It is much easier to steal/buy the designs from someone who already has them. Obviously, North-Korea does not need much time to construct its hydrogen bombs and rocket engines. The design of an ICBM you do not just shake out of your sleeve.
It is just a small step from facilitating the sale of Russian nuclear reactors to the middle east, to facilitating the sale of the designs (whatever their origin . . . ) of hydrogen bombs and rocket engines to North Korea.
Anything goes. Ethical limitations are absent in the weapons trade, in Russia's leadership, and in many American businessmen. They seem absent in some retired service men as well.
Might some kind of drug use be to blame?
1
so, here is one more piece of the Quid Pro Quo arrangement. The Trump campaign is will to promise to lift sanctions on Russia in return for dirt on the Clinton campaign
If Mr. Flynn had just wanted to sell a large amount of uranium to Russia for a hundred million dollars, he would have been fine.
Required reading for all concerned citizens who are paying attention.
Take time to read the full letter Rep Cummings sent to stonewaller Trey Gowdy on the MIke Flynn whistle-blower.
The truth will set us free.
4
The only REAL collusion has been confirmed to be between Russia, the DNC and Clinton campaign. So why is Mueller continuing to waste time looking fort collusion with Trump. Is he nuts, or just corrupt?
1
Really? Please provide the proof of this.
2
How can any American, especially any conservative American, not revolt at the many ways in which Trump & company have sold out America? Rigging an election, business deals by Flynn & others, trading visas for investment in failing Kushner real estate...
Conservative view themselves as being more patriotic, more solidly American, more righteous, more devoted to the flag, service etc. This selling out by an administration, Departments Secretaries who are focused on their company's deals, even a General who colludes with Russia -- how can any of us, especially conservatives, sit silent through any of these atrocities?
When the 2018 elections go over to the Dems, conservatives will invent someone to blame; media, Obama, McCain, anyone but themselves. But the conservative people will ultimately be to blame, for not demanding that the elected representatives who currently serve them clean up the swamp, now.
4
Given Mr. Flynn's total lack of ethical behavior, especially when entrusted to such a high level of responsibility in the administration, it had me thinking that a person doesn't become this way overnight. An inquiry into Mr. Flynn's 30 year military career might turn up rot long before he entered the White House.
3
He didn't lift the sanctions. It may be the General tried to talk him into it. And we also know the last 3 so called bombshells were soon followed by apologies by the news media. The only person to profit was Hillary, 200 million selling our Uranium to the Russians. What's worse, selling Uranium to make Nuclear bombs, or lifting sanctions. Why are you not holding Hillary to any standards...So jump to conclusions, the fact is, he did not veto the sanction bill. He signed it.
I see nothing illegal here. No law was broken.
1
Watching too many hours of Fox news does seem to impact a person's vision.
2
Trump cannot be re-elected.
2
Well, we will have to wait and see if this is fake news. It often is on this site.
Even if true. means nothing..."within minutes after Trump was sworn in" means Trump was President and the Logan Act did not apply. Flynn was National Security Advisor. IF Flynn were using business dealings to personally affect policy, he should have been fired...wait...he WAS FIRED.
For lying to fbi, not for his business dealings.....
Did Flynn have gambling debts?
Why so grasping?
2
The manipulation of sacred US laws, codes, regulations, and treaties for private gain is the very thing that Washington lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians traffic in every day of the week in Washington, DC. This is just an especially stomach-churning example of what passes for normal in our mercenary capital, and probably always has (at least since Hamilton tipped off his friends that Continentals would be redeemed at full value). Our sense of betrayal reveals a certain naivete. We're "shocked, shocked," as Claude Raines said in Casablance, to discover that gambling has occurred in this establishment.
1
How believable is this whistle blower? No Russian sanctions have been lifted...not one.
1
The Obama FBI people are blackmailing the president to change his foreign policy back to what Obama's policy was. Comey says the FBI is "independent" - but what he means is - the FBI is all powerful and can and will black mail anyone even the President even to get what they want. Independent really means unaccountable. Political Police right out in the open. From today forward we will never again have a President that isn't former FBI or CIA.
It's remarkable that this was the issue top of mind for Flynn as Trump became president so that he texted about it from the stage on Inauguration Day.
What's interesting is why Cummings sent the letter to Gowdy. Cummings clearly knows Mueller is investigating the issue, as he held off on sending the letter until “they completed certain investigative steps.” Knowing that Gowdy and the House investigation is highly unlikely to do anything, his goal appears to be to alert the public about this credible and serious allegation and that Mueller's investigation is far greater than Flynn lying to the FBI.
3
Or there is no there , there and he (Cummings) knows that maybe he can make it look like Gowdy is stonewalling because Gowdy is ignoring this "whistleblower too. Cummings is no ally of Gowdy.
According to news reports Trump refuses to implement Russian sanctions voted overwhelmingly by the Senate earlier this year; clearly a case of Chief Executive nullification. Also, grounds for Trump’s impeachment if and when Congressional Republicans remove their blindfolds and earplugs.
Were it “Lock her up” Hillary, they would attack like wild dogs, each baying for her blood and the chance to rip her to pieces. But since it’s Trump, their golden boy, they lie at his feet like poodles.
Rank hypocrisy never had better showcase.
6
Nope. I"m not going to believe it until I see the memo stating, "yeeehaaw - Don! We hit the motherlode!"
Didn’t he also refer to the relaxing the sanctions as a “ project”?
If so that says a lot about who’s working for who.
Fearless leader carried the entire treasury of Pottsylvania on his person at all times.
This is the direction Flynn, Putin, and our dearless leader are taking us.
1
Didn't Obama say that the cold war was over? Wasn't it Obama who told the Russian ambassador that he would be much more flexible after the election? Why all this brew ha ha now that that Trump is perceived to to be doing what Obama did or tried to do?
Even as Gowdy declines to investigate, on the rationale that it should be left up to Mueller, his colleagues and the media on the right seek to discredit and/or derail Mueller's investigation. Gowdy's hypocrisy is as shocking and deeply menacing as Flynn's efforts to personally profit from warping our foreign policy. Both are selling out America.
3
Thank-you Elijah Cummings for holding Gowdy accountable. It is time for the real heroes to come forward and defend our democracy from these kleptocrats and Russian oligarchs, including Putin and Trump, our "so-called" president. They have nothing but contempt for the rule of law and our democracy, but the day of reckoning is coming and they will have a whole lot to answer for.
3
This is so ridiculous. First of all who is the whistle blower no name. This was revealed in June 2017 so Mueller already knew about it. So why no indictment on this issue . Was it a violation of the law to even say this. No, since many have felt the sanctions were ineffective and were hurting possible good relations with the Russians. So now the liberal Democrats who have been preaching peace with Russia have now become advocates of tension and hostility with the Russians. How soon things change to gain political advantage in order to impeach the President. This is another NOTHINGBURGER. What ever happened to, "Give peace a chance." Have the Democrats become the war party.
1
People take a breath the text said "good to go". Most of the commenters below are really going out on a limb. Also, the election was in Nov 2016 not Jan 2017. So exactly what does this show about collusion during the presidential campaign? Remember this is witch hunt is about Russian interference in the presidential campaign. More fake news.
I guess we should now depend on the belief that "the truth will set us free" after having our country hijacked by the current privatizers of the White House.
The tyranny of capitalism and a corrupt Republican party supports a bunch of con-men. Let the truth be told.
3
Flynn, an Obama appointee at the time, was working on a deal with Russians, much like Hillary and Uranium 1. He believed sanctions imposed on Russia at the last second by Obama would be lifted by Trump but they weren't. Where's the story?
Money, it's always about money and our foreign policy was betrayed by Trump and his goons and all for money. Forget republicans doing anything about this. There will be no investigative committee or anything else, and all we have left to make these traitors accountable is Mueller. Thankfully we're heading into an election year though and Democrats need to come out in droves along with Independents and throw the GOP bums out of office. Then we can really put the heat on Trump et al.
1
The whole Republican philosophy of government is a rationale to make stealing from it patriotic.
2
Is "whistle-blower" the new "anonymous source" now since it sounds better and less mysterious?
The noose is about to tighten to a point that it will virtually choke every Trump advocate and apologist, hopefully squelching the cacophony of the past two years to something like a pathetic whimper.
4
Keep in mind that it is Fake News until proven otherwise. We have seen story after story retracted/changed that reports on the whole Russian fiasco. Give it 2-3 days...if no change in the story then you can start adding some credibility to it. Sad state of affairs that we are in today!
Headline: "Trump Administration Rejects Repealing Russia Sanctions After Policy Review, Source Says"
NYT: Give your readers the answer to "Why?". Flynn didn't do this on his own. Who else had business deals that were held up? Who else profited?
Sanctions for Russian meddling in the U.S. election? Hey democrats, the 80s are calling and they want their foreign policy back!
Hmmm, anyone wanna bet this turns out to be nanything more than unsubstantiated innuendo?
Mr. Gowdy, like Mr. Nunes, is compromised. Their hypocrisy is rank.
2
When trumplicants point to the fake Hillary Russia uranium deal, we need to point to the actual trump-Flynn-Russia Nuclear Power Plants in the Middle East scam.
What could go wrong? Massive kick-backs to the Flynns, Kushners and trumps, no doubt. A nuclear armed Saudi Arabia? An export license authorized by trump himself to export the same uranium they defamed Hillary with, to feed the new reactors?
Flynn lied to the FBI, sought secret (from CIA, NSA, FBI, etc.) back channel communications with Russia, Flynn & Son (rendition services for hire) planned to kidnap a civilian to send abroad to likely be tortured and killed for a $15 million bounty to a country that beats up on peaceful protesters within our borders with impunity, acted as an agent or lobbyist of two foreign governments - one extremely hostile to us - chanted "lock her up" to a political lynch mob rally, ... etc. What redeeming values are left from this man (traitor?)? He turned to our enemy for a buck and undermined our country's democracy. Lock him up, for good.
Forget obstructionist Gowdy (where are all of Jared's e-mails). Mr. Cummings should simply forward everything to Mueller - he's America's last chance.
22
Selling out America for personal profit it sure seems to be. Has anyone wondered if and how much Israel might have paid Kushner and Trump to axe the Iran nuclear deal and move the embassy to Jerusalem?
23
I remember President Obama deflecting questions about what he and Trump discussed with the exception of these two comments: Stay away from Michael Flynn and North Korea is your biggest problem.
Michael Flynn was a known bad actor as well as being an Iran fanatic. He was "retired " from the military early after they shuffled him around and finally could take no more. There is no way Donald Trump was not informed of all this, if not by his own circle, most CERTAINLY during his government briefings on security issues prior to taking office.
Donald Trump is the most cynical, worst human being ever to taint America's government. It's uncanny how one person can embody every deplorable human quality.
39
You have to wonder, cynically, if Obama purposefully recommend Trump not hire Flynn suspecting he would, and that he calculated it might be in the country's interests to leave a WMD in the White House.
So surprising that he would do the opposite of anything Barak would have advised him to do.
It’s all Baraks fault here. He should have known to tell Trump to embrace Mike Flynn and attack North Korea.
Is it illegal, then, to change American policy towards Russia? Which in fact has been a disaster, with Nato expanding right up to its borders. But I guess geopolitical fact counts for nothing against moral self-righteousness.
An actual, real story about pay-to-play right in front of your eyes and you refuse to see it: mind boggling.
It is illegal if the withdrawal of sanctions was a quid pro quo for Russia’s robust interference in America’s electoral process in support of Donald Trump. And it’s certainly starting to look like that regardless of anyone’s political persuasion.
2
You are dreaming. There is not even a scintilla of evidence of "collusion," that is, an actual criminal conspiracy. Sorry, it's beginning to look like that only to people who see that everywhere already. The whole investigation has shifted from collusion to obstruction, i.e., something else to impeach him on. That isn't going to work either. Except to tear the country apart.
The one thing these thugs in the WH are doing is ripping up the Constitution and the rule of law. Everyone in that WH needs to be sent to prison for Treason, including it's leader. Nothing but corruption and a national disgrace is what has replaced the Office of the President. This starts with the buffoon that the people elected as their "savior". Folks, this guy is nothing but a con man who took America for a ride and will soon put many millions, if not billions into his pocket using his office for his own personal gain and benefit. Hope you enjoy being taken for fools because that is what he sees you folks as...fools.
24
The majority of Congress professes apocalyptic religion.
1
Every shameless con artist I've ever encountered believed their work is a service to God.
2
Will someone please tell me how this man Flynn ever made it into the higher ranks of the U.S. Military? His total lack of a moral compass and lying ways do not speak well for the rest of "Trump's generals". I trust none of them. With retired 4-star Kelly baby-sitting the man-child in the White House, making his own revolting grandstand of racism against a Black female member of congress, while active duty 3-star Trump inner circle HEAD OF NATIONAL SECURITY McMaster rolls over and plays like Sara Sanders Huckabee, another paid liar to cover for Trump's racist attacks on non-Whites and non-Christians, one might thing that we've seen to many movies with Jimmy Steward and Ronald Reagan that falsely led us to believe and to expect American military generals to be honorable trustworthy members of society.
18
Generals are essentially politicians. Too bad most "hero" worshipping, low-info Americans can't see that.
So, the question is, "How did Trump, who is fabulously ignorant on almost all matters, manage to pick such a uniformly malignant cabinet?" He didn't know Flynn from Adam so someone was whispering in his ear.
Hey, as Trump said: "He is a good guy and has been through a lot." ... "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."
14
So we know Putin wanted Trump and worked to undermine the election to get him because they wanted to get rid of sanctions that seriously squeezed the Russian economy, and Trump's highest national security official said the Administration would get rid of sanctions before Trump's Inaugural address was done.
All we need to find out is Trump made the deal these facts suggest he made. I suspect a Mueller already knows the answer.
13
He wanted to get rid of sanctions freezing his cronies' assets held in foreign bank accounts, which are full of money stolen from the Russian people. If he can't guarantee the safety of their money, and their access to it, he's of little use to them.
1
The article confirms what millions of Americans have suspected from the beginning: This White House and its associates, the cabinet and those in charge of top agencies -with few exceptions- may have education but they are prone to break the rules or to put it blandly, they are criminals!
Good thing the country has the FBI.
14
Trump and company are men without a country. They cannot understand the most basic patriotism because their only real loyalty is to profit. They are like fools who can walk around in a great art museum and not appreciate anything but the cafeteria. American ideals mean nothing to them. All they understand is that they can make a buck.
81
Actually, as they walk around the great art museum they are thinking to themselves "I wonder how much money I can get for that work of art after I just take it" - we would call it theft. Trump and his cabinet is full of takers, legal and not.
I hope there was inventory taken after the Mnuchins left Fort Knox and posed at the money printing presses he is in charge of. Before you know it all faces on money will be replaced with a mug of trump.
3
Why did General Flynn wait until after Mr. Trump was swearing to send that SMS? Why didn't he send that SMS November 8 or 9 right after the election?
Could it be that Mr. Flynn knew that Mr. Trump did not win the election in a fair and honest way?
If I win a contract, I don't wait until the day I get paid to tell my girlfriend I will get her the car she has been dreaming of. The only reason I would do that is if I used illegals means to win that contract and that if it were to become public, my contract would be canceled. So I will wait until getting pay before making any promises.
General Flynn nows more than people think. Just wait and see.
7
Flynn may very well have thought that he had enough influence with Trump to get the sanctions lifted. However, the lifting was decided against by Trump. Where is the meat on this bone? somebody we never heard from says that Flynn said that something was going to happen that never did.
1
Trump planned to lift sanctions till he realized the hounds of Justice were snapping at his substantial rump.
The tide has turned on this issue. The Russian collusion investigation is a farce and the information that is coming out about the bias of the investigators will make this a non-starter.
1
Get point! Don't forget, Trump is a traitor, as are his son, son-in-law, and campaign manager!
Keep telling yourself this.
News flash: every incoming administration since the founding of the Republic changes things to its own liking. Obama was not a monarch. If Trump thought sanctions were a joke, which they are, he has every right to tear them up (those in place by executive fiat and not an act of Congress). Sanctions are chief among feel good paper tiger finger wags. All bark, no bite. Russia has always preferred the candidate least likely to build up the military, usually the Democrat, and have been aggressively using every medium available to do so my entire lifetime. So now they we have Facebook and bot farms that is somehow worse than State Department plants and newspaper men on their payroll? Give me a break.
1
Great point! It's obvious now, because Trump wants to increase the military to the detriment of Russia and yet Putin still supports him, that Trump is a traitor!
Reuters tonight/2225 CET has indicated a Russian bank has bought all or a portion of the Trump debt from Deutsche Bank. The alleged loan amount to Trump exceeds 300 million. Other loans to the Kushner family are near one billion dollars.
Should this prove true, the dimension of association between Trump and the Russians, specifically Putin is breathtaking.
If this revelation is true...the end of the Trump Administration is indeed in sight.
Stay tuned on this one....
18
Not quite sure I understand the relevance. If Private Citizen Anybody took out a loan at a bank, ANY bank, and then another bank bought that debt, that would be the fault of the borrower? Banks buy and sell debt all the time. How is it that the customer is responsible for the actions of their bank?
RH, my fingers are crossed. Thanks for this chunky nibble of good news. I'm sure you remember several months ago when the Madman Trump spoke to the media about the Mueller investigation - he said, and I paraphrase: "He better keep his hands out of my financial records or he'll be sorry". Yes, Trump did NOT want Mueller to touch his history with Deutsche Bank. I cannot wait to see the entire Trump sleazy con artist family in leg irons. Please keep us informed, RH, as the plot thickens!
1
In Russia, banks are pretty much an arm of the government, despite the legalistic fig leaves. If a Russian bank owns Trump's debts is to say Putin owns Trump.
But we knew that.
It needs to be remembered that the sanctions against Russia were due to the seizure of the Crimea and its false-flag border war against the Ukraine along its eastern frontier.
We've never heard any explanation from Trump as to why America's interests would be furthered by ending sanctions against Russia. Why does this article say that "various plans to lift the Russia sanctions circulated through the Trump administration, but Mr. Trump ultimately decided not to repeal the measures.?"
The fact is that the House and Senate (dominated by Republicans but with Democrats strongly agreeing in this matter) sure did not see it Trump/Flynn's way, enacting stiff sanctions against Russian interests (including directly against Putin and Russian oligarchs) that Trump signed.
If Trump thought they were wrong he should not have signed, given the American public an explanation, and fought the override vote. But Trump saw that he would lose it, and put his best face ... on getting his face rubbed in his dirt.
All we see are Trump's attempts to build hotels, Manafort's and Flynn's attempts to profit from Russia -- no other reason for their behavior.
What do our serving Army officers think of Flynn now? He strikes me as a disgrace to his uniform, very lucky to just get sacked by Obama, and now deservedly indicted.
How much time Flynn serves in jail (and potentially how much time his son does too) depends on who else Flynn can put in jail. What a rat, in all ways.
3
Flynn described himself in his book "Field of Fight" as "hell-bent on breaking the rules for the adrenaline rush and hardwired just enough not to worry about the consequences." That pretty much sums him up and it looks like reality has caught up with him. To avoid serious consequences for himself and his son for his lying, and some have suggested conflicts of interest and perhaps treasonous actions he has stuck a deal with the Special Prosecutor. Some have called him stupid, some arrogant, some reckless. Perhaps he is all of these things. In my opinion by his admitted action he has proven himself to be above all else a national disgrace.
8
And to think a presidential administration will be, rightfully, brought to its knees all to save that unimpressive, mediocre and low info son of Flynn from doing time. It's pretty tasty.
This is how they rationalize: the US system is at fault for their own failings; thus, it is righteous to be a traitor, in fact they don't believe they are traitors at all!!
Flynn - the general who disagreed with the policies of his country's legal and elected officials, and was fired in disgrace by those for whom he felt contempt.
Trump - the financial exile who disagreed with the legal and orderly system that held him accountable for 6 bankruptcies.
Together, they nurtured the lie that their country had betrayed THEM, and their rightful legacy of entitlement. It was an easy step in to the arms of the Russians.
6
I find Flynn's actions on this and other international matters quite alarming.
Even more alarming to me is that Trump did very little to vet this guy before appointing him to the NSC.
How many more people like Flynn are there in this White House?
Be afraid, be very afraid that Trump and his cronies will sell us down the river for a few bucks.
5
Swathi, I understand your shock at the fact that a man of Flynn's past reputation would be taken into the heart of the Executive Branch of our nation's government, but to EXPECT Trump to actually vet, to actually CARE about a man's criminal background is expecting the impossible. If you've read any of the background - books, reports written about Trump's decade's long and disgraceful history in the business and trashy celebrity world of New York City, then you know of his history of being super tight pals with Lawyer Roy Cohn and other mobster scum who saw no problem with bribes and breaking laws and hanging out with thugs to get stiff their suppliers and steal the profits. To expect Trump to vet someone is like expecting him to care about our country, or to respect women and Blacks and Muslims, to do something about that maniacal hair. Not gonna happen. He's a full-bore megalomaniac. Cares only about himself, not the country, and what former president has brought more Wall Street thugs and law breakers and anti-American millionaires into the White House to trash our country and tear down our National Monuments? This is one record that the Madman President has authentically broken.
1
So, it’s business, deals and profitable ventures that were the priorities of the incoming administration on January 20. The president slurred the country he was about to lead as “a carnage” and belittled every one of his immediate predecessors who sat a mere few feet away from him. It was about making “a lot of very wealthy people”, and about the flow money, not about making America great again, after all. Slowly but surely, the walls are closing in on this corrupt president and his administration.
6
Flynn, by his own admission lied to the FBI, of that we may be confident. We may also be confident that there have been many accusations and allegations regarding Flynn. In the instance offered here, Mr. Cummings offers an ALLEGED conversation he had with some ALLEGED individual who offered him ALLEGED ALLEGATIONS made to him by an ALLEGED PARTY who conveyed an ALLEGED text Message he ALLEGEDLY received from Flynn. Mr Cummings demands we accept these ALLEGATIONS as absolutely true, Scouts Honor, because he has no reason to invent this convoluted tale.
In the words of Carl Sagan, Mr. Cummings: "EXTRAORDINARY CLAIMS DEMAND EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE".
more accusations from secret un named sources.
National Security Advisor. Sure, for Russia.
Thanks, GOP.
4
Actually, Flynn was in the Obama Administration first, Trump was the one to fire him.
Flynn was yet another Obama misstep among an eight-year sea of missteps and scandal!
Mr. Mueller knew about this and still let Flynn plead to a single count of lying to the FBI? Flynn must have spilled his guts. I look forward to finding out all about the bigger fish he is helping to fry!
7
Many retired and active duty military now look at Flynn with gross contempt. A liar who would betray his country for self enrichment..and this includes Flynn's son, who by most accounts just followed his father's advice. Flynn will spend the rest of his life living in the shadows of reality..a disgrace to himself, his uniform and his country,
But, there is more...the question is "why" was the Trump people so adaptable at releasing the sanctions..there was more than building power plants in the mid-East..so what was it...the answer to the question will be coming soon...and no doubt the foundation of the "why" is because of Trump's activity during the Mis Universe Contest..plus the fact, the Russians have somehow backstopped Deutsche Bank in the nearly 300 million (or more) loans by the German bank...when no other bank would provide the lending...the Russians saw an opportunity to "sway" a figure in America..and it turned out the "moron" became President of the United States.
4
RH, how coincidental do you think it was that Trump put the King of Exxon CEO billionaire Tillerson in the Secretary of State seat - Tillerson: Official Friend of Russia. Long and deep oil and gas and BIG MONEY connections with Mr. Putin. Tillerson makes the move necessary to clear out those pesky sanctions. Exxon moves back in and drills, Putin gets richer, Exxon gets richer, Exxon thanks Trump for getting those annoying and costly sanctions out of the way so Exxon can get back in with their oil rigs, and the payback money flows straight into Trump's 2020 election campaign. Just for starters, isn't that a likely scenario?
1
Do you think for one minute that the Donald didn't have a piece of THAT action ?
How do you think Putin became the richest man in the world on his government salary? The president [sic] is emulating his hero.
27
Donald J. Trump
April 3, 2016
"I am self funding and will hire the best people, not the biggest donors!"
Best people, like Flynn, Manafort, Lewandowski, Papadopoulos, etc.
Not the biggest donors like DeVos, Mnuchin, Linda (body slam!) McMahon.
27
A rip from a general who has lost his grip. R.I.P. Flynn and Son, Traitors to the United States, and cowards to the last fetid breath.
19
Looks like Trump was replacing the swamp with a cesspool with all the players cashing in. Flynn getting Russian Middle East deals 11 minutes into his job, Ivanka got 100 million $ from Saudi and Jared got 300 million in bank loans easily with more to come. Trump was busy promoting his properties 1/3 rd of his presidency and is ready to sign a tax bill benefiting his family over a billion$. No wonder he wanted to be president to fight for the forgotten guy as any good demagogue sells himself. Its all coming out more and more corruption run amok.
33
I missed the part where the sanctions got ripped up on Day 1. Seem to still be in place....
No, they are not in place. They have yet to be enacted by Trump.
6
“The only kind of people I want counting my money are little short guys that wear yarmulkes every day."
---- Donald Trump
I hope it doesn’t in any way spoil things for the President when he finds out that these same little guys are now counting his money and Flynn's for Mueller.
15
“Whistleblower?” You mean illegal leaker. There was nothing to blow the whistle on if the FBI already had this supposed information. If Flynn received a quid pro quo he should be prosecuted for it, even if Hillary wasn’t. Yet, I didn’t see any sanctions dropped. Huh?
We don't know that this whisteleblower was a part of the investigation. And you haven't seen any sanctions dropped because Trump has refused to impose them.
3
The Senate forced his hand into keeping them. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2017/06/15/politics/russia-...
1
And now it's time for a rousing rendition of the classic hit "What About Hillary?" from the ever-popular boy-band, The Russian Trolls!
28
Brilliant. Thank you.
Good luck to those attempting to spin this piece of news as well as the mounting, damning evidence against individuals within or formerly a part of the Trump administration. It's only going to get much harder from here until the hammer is finally dropped.
16
Flynn was a 3-star - where is his sense of patriotism? You are angry at the President so you sell out your country? I realize he was caught in a honey trap, but, seriously, how stupid can he be? Where is his trade craft? I have more and I only read spy novels.
9
How is this not treason?
28
...Or maybe CORRUPTION
1
First, the NY Times readers were elated when Trump Jr. canoodled with a Russian lawyer with no connection to the government and didn’t speak English. Thousands called for impeachment and treason. But it was nothing.
Then Mueller nailed Monfort, surely impeachment was imminent. But it was nothing.
Then when Flynn confessed to fibbing to the FBI the readers thought surely this was the Don’s downfall. Again, nothing.
Now the distraught Times readers are only left to whine that Trump lies. Yes, imagine, a politician who lies.
Here’s the great departed humorist , Russell Baker writing.
'Mueller is sitting amongst 24 high priced lawyers, each drinking coffee and billing 800 dollars per hour.
Mueller: “We gotta’ get a Russian connection on Trump to impeach him.”
DEWEY: “He uses Russian dressing on his salad.”
CHEATEM: “He had dinner once at the Russian Tea Room.”
And HOWE: “He visited Russia once.”
Mueller: “Bingo. That should get us impeachment because we got nothing else.”'
You lost me at “canoodled with a Russian lawyer with no connection to the government.” Get the facts and then write.
8
Nataly Veselnitskaya, the Russian lawyer has no connection to her government and does not speak English. Do you believe Russia sent a spy to Trump Jr. who does not speak English? Interestingly, the FBI has not interviewed Nataly. Do you wonder why?
K, so again we're left with a non-named source who apparently made his info public only to the very partisan Elijah Cummings (how convenient) in June, but did nothing with it since. This has happened SOOO MANY TIMES during this Trump/Russia farce; someone on the left who is still smarting from teh non-election of the 'anointed one' makes an accusation without citing an actual source, and you dommsdayers and haters jump all over it, calling Trump a crook and a villain. I'm sure that this item, just as with the MANY other 'we have evidence but can't produce it nor can we name the source' stories that are made just to create clickbait and get you haters all frothed up, will amount to another in a series of nothingburgers.
Take his pension
his pension
4
The national security adviser general Flynn is now reduced to a stepping stone for Mueller so he may catch even bigger fish. If Flynn,a national security adviser,is a stepping stone;then pray tell who is the next bigger fish? My fingers are crossed
13
This - or any other such revelation - won't make an iota of difference to the army of the converted, the ardent, and fanatical. Trump supporters that is . . .
9
This was a Quid pro quo between trump's campaign team and Putin - no question about it.
21
So the whistle blower was told by someone who was told by Flynn. This isn't even 2nd hand gossip.
It 'appears' -- if the whistle-blower is telling the truth -- that Lt Gen Michael Flynn was using his position as NSA for personal gain. if that's the case, and that it violates Federal Law, then he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
That being said, it seems odd that Mueller and his crack team of democrat hit-men didn't uncover this as they had Flynn in their sights long before this took place.
Then again, maybe they did and what Flynn planned here wasn't illegal? As the Lying to FBI plea is a nothing burger crime. He'll get probation.
1
Hmm. I wonder if our Fake President was to get a cut of some rubles also, like Flynn, from this power plant deal if those Russian sanctions disappeared?
10
Please allow me to assist Mr Cummings with the investigation. President Trump fired Flynn after 24 days on the job and the President never lifted sanctions against Russia. The nuclear deal also never went anywhere since Trump fired Flynn. Glad I could help you out Mr Cummings.
Allow me to assist you. Trump did not want to fire Flynn & he did not want to keep sanctions in place. The fact that he did was due to intense political pressure. But you knew that already.
11
You are both missing a key fact about the sanctions. Yes, Trump was pressured to sign off on new sanctions. He has yet to enact them.
1
I am wondering what is in the records from the Deutche Bank.
11
U.S. Constitution, Section 3.
"Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court."
3
If this isn't "pay to play" I don't know what is.
11
Flynn is bad we know but even this revelation does not touch Trump.
The smoking gun. Can we have our constitutional democracy back now?
9
I forget, what were the sanctions for anyway? If they thought they would have the same affect as in Iraq, the deaths of thousands of kids, they were wrong.
Congress voted those sanctions into LAW months ago, and that law was signed. He he had vetoed it, it would have become law anyway because there were way more than enough votes to override. Then the DJT administration tried to slow walk them, and Congress put his feet to the fire about it, and the latest time frame I heard was that they were supposed to start in January. But then Tillerson closed the whole office at the State Dept that deals with sanctions. So EXACTLY HOW ARE THOSE SANCTIONS GOING TO GET IMPLEMENTED? Congress, you need to make sure this happens -- with NO MORE DELAY. If he refuses to implement the law of this land, you need to view that as (further) grounds for impeachment. It is absolutely essential that Putin doesn't get to win the jackpot here. He got his president in the White House, but he needs to have those sanctions stick. Make him suffer.
9
Donald Trump has demonstrated himself to be an "I'LL do it, alone, when and how I want" kind of manager. So the idea that all of this was going on around him without his knowledge and involvement is beyond laughable.
11
If anyone posting here thinks anything Mueller or Congress does won't be rejected/overturned by the DC Court of Appeals and/or the Supreme Court - both of which Trump and McConnell are currently stacking - there is a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.
Nothing wrong with what Flynn said or did.
Incoming president is totally entitled to make contact with any nation and begin establishing a dialogue.
More outrageous is Obama designing and implementing a coup d' état.
1
Really? There's nothing wrong with selling out to an adversary of the U.S. in exchange for personal gain?
2
Okay, c'mon, now Hollywood screenwriters are writing this: Flynn texting the Russian green-light during the inaugural address? From the podium of the Capital?
Truth is way stranger than fiction. And more dangerous. And more disgraceful.
7
The real question here is did Flynn ask for himself or did he ask for his boss at the time and if so what time was that?
5
Seems like everyone connected in one way or another to trump and the Republican Party have been engaged in cover up after cover up to benefit themselves and cronies.
8
This is a complete non-story. While you may not like the actions, there is nothing illegal here. At the end of the day, the real story is not going to be about collusion between the Trump administration and the Russians, it will be about how corrupt the core agencies of the federal government have become. The federal government has become an entity unto itself, completely unaccountable to the people or the law.
What utter nonsense.
8
Flynn would never have acted without discussing the end of sanctions with Trump before or after the inauguration. With Trump's move on Jerusalem, let's wonder what other collusions are or have been in the works. This president has been out of control from the beginning.
6
It wasn't Flynn's prerogative to drop the sanctions. He could recommend it, but he couldn't do it on his own authority.
I am not sure any level of scandal will make much difference to Trump or his supporters. They simply see this as an elitist conspiracy and not amount of evidence of wrongdoing will have an impact.
Flynn should have taken the 5th from the first day with the FBI.
They always nitpick with testimony and that is what they get all these guys on -lying to a Federal Investigator. They threatened Flynn's son, too. I'd say that the old hand-book of the Spanish Inquisition has been dusted off.
Flynn lied to the FBI? Big deal. Clapper lied to Congress and nothing happened to him.
As far as I'm aware even Flynn's meetings were in the transition period and so beyond Mueller's remit which was about interference in the election itself.
What about all the meetings the Obama administration held - quite openly - with foreign governments during the transition period between his election and his first inauguration.
It's completely possible, of course, that some as-yet-to-be-revealed piece of evidence will prove collusion - before the election and by CANDIDATE Trump -with the Russians.
But the Flynn testimony certainly isn't it. Neither this new 'whistleblower'.
All the hysteria is simply a sign of how the media always gravitates toward the news it wishes were true, rather than what really is true. If all Mueller has is Flynn & Russians during the transition period, he's got nothing.
So the Russia collusion hysteria investigation has now officially moved on to be a plain ole corruption case.
7
We already know that Mueller has more than the wishful "what ifs" postulated by "Chris in Berlin."
First, it is jaw dropping that knowing what they already knew about Flynn in November and December of 2016 that Trump and his "transition team" went forward - following through on the appointment of Flynn as National Security Advisor to the President. Second, it is astonishing that observing Flynn operate openly and brazenly with his conflicted loyalties and agendas as a presidential advisor they not only did not immediately discharge him, but they chose to ignore the warning that came flooding in, first from the previous president, and finally weeks after the inauguration, from Sally Yates. Third, when they did move to discharge Flynn they did so not for the reasons being retrofitted now by counsel, but ostensibly for 'lying to the Vice President,' which is not just inaccurate, but demonstrably a lie.
As for the "collusion" - besides the lectures in Moscow and command performance with Putin, there was Trump's little freak out where after receiving his first complete, unredacted intelligence briefing from the Intelligence agencies, he sent Flynn running to Kislyak with the report, resulting in the arrest of the Deputy Director of the FSB, as well as his deputy and the director of intelligence for Kaspersky Labs, by Putin. That's not just collusion, as it resulting in the arrest of US intelligence assets, it's treason.
11
Chris,
A very cursory reading of the Flynn guilty plea document shows Flynn's lies to the FBI can very obviously not be blamed on any "nitpick with testimony." If that were so, Flynn's very competent attorneys would have never recommended he plead guilty to lying and cooperate with the prosecutors.
Also, lying to the FBI may not be a big deal to you. However, tough talk is cheap unless it's you looking at the possibility of a long stay in federal prison. I'd also just guess that most all Americans would have the expectation that the president's national security advisor always be truthful with everyone they speak to in our government, the FBI or otherwise.
At this point, only a very few know what General Flynn's testimony will be-Flynn, his lawyers, Mr. Mueller's team and at least one or more persons who have committed crimes. And we all do know what is true today-we'll find out soon enough who they are and what they've done.
Finally, General Flynn did not get the deal he received by our government unless the information he possesses is of great value. It did not take Torquemada and the threat of the auto-da-fe to obtain Flynn's confession-just a couple of prosecutors and FBI agents in dark suits and ties.
2
"Plain old corruption case" ... with Russians!
2
No matter what the reasons a person does something wrong, the reason behind doesn't lessen its impact on us as a country. If anything his military training by this country makes the idea he even contemplated it worse. Shame is not a condition this administration seem to suffer from. Though they should, on many levels and during many instances.
15
If this were only about making money, the story would be rotten enough. But to me the most alarming part of the story is that US troops would be used to defend the contractor's new power plants in the middle east, giving the administration a pretext for a military presence in these countries.
Do these men have no shame?
39
In answer to your question: No, none.
3
Nope.
2
Collusion? Hardly ... Inauguration Day, Trump is officially president. The Obama December sanctions ( shouldn't an outgoing president have coordinated such policy with an incoming one? ) are left in place. Flynn fired three weeks later. Where's the collusion?
2
Flynn apparently was working on this as a private citizen and the cashing on the opportunity to fight sanctions and use US troops. Forget "collision," this is graft on an epic scale.
7
Stay tuned. Obstruction of Justice may end up being more significant....
1
Today will be known as the day we began to ascertain the 'why' of Flynn's lying to the FBI. There is no way that Flynn would have decided to tell this business that sanctions would be "torn up" (a few minutes into Trump's inaugural) without boss Trump's explicit permission. We are also beginning to understand why Trump has always refused to criticize Russia and Putin; there was money to be made. This is treasonous behavior.
25
I would be cautious about accepting the whistleblower's facts. Not saying it's wrong -- but it's early days yet for evaluating this piece of evidence.
5
Meuller accepted the facts...he vetted the whistleblower before giving Cummings the go-ahead to release the information.
2
Anyone who thinks that ALL of Flynn's phone records, text messages, and emails HAVE NOT been examined by Meuller well before now is kidding themselves. Flynn is allowed to express ANY opinion to ANYONE about ANYTHING, just like the rest of us. Turns out that he was wrong about what would happen concerning sanctions, as he personally, had NO control over whether or not to lift them. Just ANOTHER revelation making his firing look like the correct decision!
1
This is not a case of dealing with an opinion. If true, this is an attempt to commit graft on an epic scale.
2
You must mean his firing by President Obama, of course. Well justified by all accounts.
Jared's coup against the transition committee to get Flynn in, even when Flynn had told them he was under FBI investigation DURING the transition = Flynn's belated firing by Trump is way too little and way too late to save Trump and Jared and rest of their gang of thieves from the Big House.
5
This makes Flynn and his buddies and supporters look very bad. If this is the tenor of the administration he was briefly part of, then it is ethically corrupt.
4
Does anyone else find this all to be a little bit more than incredulous? When did people who are supposed to uphold the integrity and defend the US turn against them for their own greediness?
I am sickened with what I find in the news daily of Americans betraying the USA
18
What's sickening is how many American citizens find excuses for this type of behavior.
1
Turns out "lock her up" was merely symptomatic of the grave problems with General Flynn.
At the core, he's just someone obsessed with personal advancement, enrichment, and gratification - no matter what the cost to the country and our unique American values and history of being a country of laws.
Then again, every single one of the coterie surrounding the president would match up to that selection criteria.
I must confess, I'm enjoying playing Colbert's "On the first day of Christmas, Bob Mueller gave to me... a Michael Flynn guilty plea..."
I would much rather listen to that as background music than the other festive holiday music soon to bombard our ears... obviously, it's the first time the country will be celebrating Christmas... (rolls eyes).
11
Rep. Cummings seems to be one of the good guys, kudos to him for trying to take on Rep. Gowdy, who as chairman of the House Oversight Committee has clearly failed to exercise any oversight of the mess that is the current administration.
20
I hope to believe that while Michael Flynn was serving in our military he was honorable. I don't know what brought this man down, if it was being under the influence of Trump..or if it was before Trump entered the picture.
5
Makes you wonder about his service.
2
So this whole affair turns out to have been driven by just simple greed, mixed with a little lust for power.
I always used to distinguish between North and South America . . . but that distinction seems to be something from the past, given the little reaction of the public to all these revelations.
I still find much hard to accept, though: how could Trump so easily find a group of people willing to act like this? Nixon's cronies I could understand, to a certain extent. But Flynn remains incomprehensible to me.
5
As a "businessman" communicating with the Russians seemed as normal and acceptable to Donald Trump because he had been pursuing Russians "with buckets of cash" to launder for well over a decade. Trump has always been a 'businessman' the way John Giotti in real life, or Hyman Roth, in the movies, played 'businessmen; as clichéd gangsters 'playing the role of gangster.' That Trump was allowed to flaunt the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for a decade, Civil Rights Laws for three decades, and numerous fraud laws for five decades, without criminal prosecution explains why he's convinced that he's only being taken to task now for 'political reason.' In reality, it's because Trump was always relatively small potatoes until he got 'lucky' with his post "Apprentice" career as president. Flynn and Trump both indulged in "Pay to Play" rackets and scams along with treason. Flynn is already charged. It will be a long overdue day when all of Trump's deserved charges are delivered at his door and he is led to a jail cell.
20
Getting warmer. I never thought that high level government officials would think they could get way with national strategic decisions that advance their own and their friends' economic interests and went against their country's interest. I always believed that government officials, with very few exceptions, conducted themselves as a stewards of our country. I also always assumed that perspectives on policy differed based on alternative assessments of risk and opportunity for the American people. But I was wrong - it has become increasingly obvious that the driving force of this mob in Executive Branch is not the interests of US population. I'm not sure if I should vomit or laugh. Vomit because it's inhumane and criminal; laugh because so many people fell for it and voted for Trump and his entourage.
11
The Trump administration's prime objective all along has been to "make a lot of very wealthy people" even wealthier – from tax cuts to opening Bear's Ears to resource exploration, so this is very much consistent with that.
I'm quite sure Mr. Gowdy. a first class snake, will not follow up on this. Fortunately, I'm sure Mr. Mueller already is. This sort of selling out American interests for financially gain is undoubtedly why Trump is so worried about Mueller.
13
I find myself a bit conflicted on this. Yes, it's bad, should be investigated and taken seriously. But, I can't help but wonder if this is going to interfere with Flynn's cooperation with the Special Counsel. It seemed a deal was struck to ensure his cooperation and now this suggests there may be new charges. A part of me wonders if this information was 'leaked' with that very intention. Maybe I am just not understanding how all this works, though.
The other issue this brings to mind is the Trump Hotel project written about in the Washington Post in August of this year. It seemed as if that stalled, coincidentally, just before the presidential primaries.
To quote the article,
"although investors and Trump’s company signed a letter of intent, they lacked the land and permits to proceed and the project was abandoned at the end of January 2016, just before the presidential primaries began, several people familiar with the proposal said."
It's total speculation - but one wonders if (never mind the Steele dossier) inability to get permits became leverage the Russians could use against the Trump team. Were promises made that permits and land would magically become available if sanctions were 'ripped up' similar to what we are seeing with Flynn's deal in this article? We'll probably never know.
3
Gad, can it get any worse for the crooks that inhabit our White House. Yes, it's "our White House". It's not a profit center for the Trump family or those who care so little about their reputations that they decided to hook their lives to the ultimate con man. This is beyond anything done by anyone in any previous administration. Just remember, the GOP impeached a sitting President because he mislead about a perfectly legal- if immoral- relationship with an intern. Even when compared to Nixon- hush money- what Donald Trump and his family and friends have done is nothing short of the rape of our country. We have an entire administration which at every turn seems motivated by one thing- the economic betterment of Donald Trump, friends and family. Disgusting.
112
I call them pirates!
Excuse me, why isn't this the top-of-the-page above the fold story? This is a huge development.
143
Very good question indeed.
Because it seems people think that Trump recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital is more worthy of attention than evidence implicating his staff as having committed high treason.
2
I think it‘s safe to say, the Trump candidacy/presidency was/is nothing other than a criminal enterprise. Lock them up. SOON!
74
All that's lacking at this point is any actual evidence of a crime. Lots of anonymous sources though....
Mind boggling to think he recently ran one of the largest intelligence agencies in the government.
50
There is so much I don't understand. This article implies that Flynn was willing (and apparently able) to completely dismiss (literally and figuratively) the facts that Russia had hacked and manipulated our election in order to make himself rich? I can't wrap my head around it. This man - who is supposedly serving The Country - was willing to throw the health and well being of our democracy under the bus for money? How is this not treason and how do these people live in their own skin?
144
Pdxgrl
Flynn was not dismissing the Russian hacking. He was RELYING ON IT. Without it, he would not have gotten to be NSA for 24 days, and he would not have had the "credibility" to rope in the other participants. Nobody plays big business with a guy who has no money and no "influence."
4
Actually quite straightforward. Before being sacked by Obama, he was what you had described. Thereafter, he owed no allegiance except to himself. It's the extreme zeal that was snubbed. No different from obsessive love rejected.
1
I think Vladimir Lenin understood the capitalist's mission ("....the rope we will hang then with"). His namesake knows all about it too.
1
So what is exactly illegal about a new administration "ripping up sanctions" enacted by the previous administartion? The new president has the authority to do that and to announce his plans to any world leaders or other interested parties he chooses. General Flynn, as a member of President-elect Trump's transition team was just communicating Trump's foreign policy plans with respect to Russia to people interested in the subject. Nothing wrong or illegal about that.
3
People monetarily interested in the subject, as was Flynn himself apparently. That is the very definition of a corrupt conflict of interest.
3
It's not illegal but what is, is Flynn trying to capitalize off of it. Quid Pro Quo. Thing is all these people think Trump did this when it was Flynn. Trump ultimately signed more sanctions against Russia not rip them up.
1
When its done for personal financial gain rather than America's best interests that is corrupt intent, as is clearly the case described here, it illegal, immoral and grounds for prosecution and, more importantly, impeachment.
8
The bet here, is that Flynn will ultimately testify that Donald Trump instructed him to deny or otherwise lie to the FBI about the substance of his discussions with Kislyak. Lies, denials and deceit are standard operating procedure for Mr. Trump. Such testimony will be the basis of a prima facie case of obstruction of justice, not the mere firing of Comey, which arguably was a matter within the president's discretionary authority.
18
There's as much chance of Gowdy moving forward with subpoenas to further investigate this as there is that McConnell will prevent Roy Moore a seat in the Senate.
Instead, look for Gowdy to investigate the whistle blower for violating his contract.
The only ray of light is that Mueller is already aware of this whistle blowers story and has apparently found it credible enough to notify Rep. Cummings to wait till he's vetted its authenticity.
If this is not a quid pro quo, then what is?
39
The article "suggests" that Michael Flynn had "a possible economic incentive"for the United States to forge a closer relationship with Russia." However, the article notes that Flynn stopped working for ACU Strategic Partners in June 2016. ACU’s senior scientist Thomas Cochran told the Washington Post that “General Flynn firmly believed in the necessity of the project from a US national security perspective.” So the probability is that Flynn continue to promote because he believed it would increase stability in the Middle East and improve U.S.-Russia relations.
1
Increase stability? Flynn's game was more likely to ensure that US troops would be used to protect the power projects, giving the military a toehold where the US is not usually welcome.
8
"So the probability is that Flynn continue to promote because he believed it would increase stability in the Middle East and improve U.S.-Russia relations."
I. Don't. Think. So. Such a lovely and altruistic glass you peer through.
1
Flynn is a great illustration of a classic Republican tactic: Loudly accuse the Democrats of whatever sin/crime/malfeasance you've committed yourself. Flynn's "Lock Her Up" at the GOP convention was in the same vein as the impeachment of Bill Clinton by adulterous Republican House leaders (Newt Gingrich, Bob Livingston, Henry Hyde, etc.).
72
I'm sure Flynn's interest in wanting to scrap the sanctions are the same as the Trumps and Kushners. All of their self-interests are aligned in that respect. When all this is over we will probably find out that Donald is over his head indebted to the Russians and Kushner wanted the sanctions lifted so he could get an infusion of money for his 666 building. They were selling out the US for pecuniary gain. It's heartbreaking that this is where we are at. Even the Republican party is complicit as they are looking past all of this just to give taxpayer money to their donors and then cut more of the safety net. And where are the Democrats! No message, no alternative, impotent impotent impotent.
37
Mueller has a lot of leaks.
Leak came from Congress,
17
Cummings complied with the investigative teams demand to not release this until certain investigative steps were completed. Cummings complied with their demand. This is not a leaked story.
33
Salb:
If you could read you would realize that the story was "revealed" by Elijah Cummings of the House Oversight Committee, not Mueller at all
34
Russia commits an act of war against the US, and the GOP administration and congress do what? A slap on the wrist? They've gotten their collective 30 pieces of silver for betraying the Constitution - the White House.
Russia got a president willing to tear up and devolve most of the capabilities and policies of the federal government that keep us strong in the world and as a country. On top of that, a tax bill that will bankrupt the country and/or make the middle-class and poor poorer, reduce educational programming, etc.
And do we think the GOP Congress will act on any indication of high crimes and misdemeanors? Hah.
Somewhere in Moscow a guy named Vladimir is smiling... it's all going rather well, isn't it?
76
It's all clear now - Flynn's appointment as National Security Adviser was to make sure that any concerns involving Russia would get downplayed sufficiently as to not jeopardize these deals that would go forward when the sanctions against Russia are "ripped up"...
The only reason this president hasn't been impeached yet is because the fake-news-consuming Republicans don't know/don't care about this or any of the other things President Biff Tannen and his gang are doing to destroy this country... and until the base turns, Republican lawmakers will bend over backward to pretend like this is all normal.
67
President Trump has the legal authority to end all sanctions imposed on Russia by Obama if he thinks that will help the U.S. economy and fight against ISIS. Nothing illegal or impeachable there.
There is if everyone is lying about it. Are you forgetting that the Whistleblower was told by Flynn that "a lot of people would get rich?"
2
It's not about the economy, nor is it about ISIS. He has his own reasons, of which merits the Russia investigation to continue.
1
Remember that Flynn was nominated for the post of Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency by Barack Obama in 2012!
And while you're at it, remember also that he was subsequently fired by Obama, and that Obama warned Trump against hiring Flynn for, among other reasons, his chaotic management style and the fact that he was prone to crazy ideas. Sounds like another prominent public figure we know.
8
'On April 30, 2014, Flynn announced his retirement effective later that year, about a year earlier than he had been scheduled to leave his position. He was reportedly effectively forced out of the DIA after clashing with superiors over his allegedly chaotic management style .'.. In plainer English, he was fired because of his loudmouthed stupidity, which served him well in his next positions working with Russian politicians, Trump's campaign, and his short lived Government job. God only knows how he made General in the Army, though as we see, you can go along ways on brash bullying behaviour....
30
Obama dismissed Flynn in 2014 for insubordination and subsequently warned drump not to hire him.
9
So Flynn said it. Again, so what? Not even close to a crime. Evidence of a bureaucrat saying something is not a grand conspiracy. Did anything actually happen?
Uh, that would be a no, again. What a pitiful kabuki theater this ridiculous investigation is, not to mention riddled with Hillary surrogates and corruption
4
Absurd perspective. The National Security Director making decisions on sanctions in order to make he and his friends rich? That's a crime and it was in fact a grand conspiracy. The fact that the "crime" was stopped or didn't work out, doesn't make the attempt any less illegal and improper. Seriously you have no problem with Flynn trying to fill his own pockets and the pockets of his friends and family by influencing the foreign policy of the United States. Incredible!
46
Ah yes, Trump is innocent. So he has nothing to fear from Mueller's investigation, right?
19
But, the Benghazi investigation, on the other hand, was a very justified and legitimate use of taxpayer money even though it revealed absolutely no wrongdoing by HRC?
Got it.
Please share your concept of the “corruption” in this “ridiculous” investigation. And please, use your own words and don’t regurgitate something you just heard on Fox News.
Of course Mueller knows this already. Not one iota of proof that President Trump said anything to the good General about his words to another. In fact, Comey knew this some time ago as well. And Comey said, for the 1000th time, there was no collusion with Russia regarding Trump and the election. This is beating a dead horse to death.
2
Wow.
Misinformation seems to be fashionable today.
Comey said nothing about the existence of collusion.
11
Comey said there was no evidence of collusion...Mueller is gathering such evidence.
9
"Comey said, for the 1000th time, there was no collusion with Russia regarding Trump and the election."
The facts, as they are discovered are painting a picture contrary to the assertions made by many members of the trump team, including those who are now adjudicated felons or soon to be so. You are working with old news and old assumptions. This is a new whistle blower so your observations about Mueller and Comey knowing about these issues is flagrant nonsense.
8
I dare say that Flynn chanting "Lock her up" is the ultimate example of "Psychological projection".
97
gene
Flynn, as bad as he is, does not hold a candle to Donald Trump when it comes to "projection." EVERYTHING Trump says is projection.
1
So it really comes down to being all about the money. How could such a corrupt coven be elected? Witch hunt really is the right term. Will they be burned?
28
There's a reason trump wouldn't fully divest himself from his business interests, and a reason he refuses to release his tax returns.
4
I would honestly like to know from Trump supporters:
If Trump and/or Putin admitted to conspiring to influence the election openly, would it make any difference to your support?
I know you all say "so what" and "nothing burger," but if there were definitive, unassailable proof, would it change your minds?
Or are you so into your support for Trump that it wouldn't matter even if he confessed?
90
Ben, I don't think they understand what's at stake. That's the thing. There's been to much smoke and mirrors and not enough simple, grade school education to help folks really understand the big picture. Trump believers are under the spell of the cult of personality and the GOP is under the spell of greed and avarice.
33
They finally got their lusted-after tax cuts and will now commence "starving the beast." Rough times ahead for most Americans.
5
I doubt they would care. One of my uncles is a Trump supporter. As long as Trump is hurting POC, gays, and women, my uncle will stick by him.
7
Nice little business Mr. Flynn acquired, after he was forced to resign. I've wondered who helped him find his first contracts - after all, business contracting is not something he would have been familiar with during his thirty years military service. And yet, there he was, with all those prized 'consultancies', negotiating with Turkey, looking to open new markets in nuclear power in the Middle East. Just how did he manage to acquire those contacts so quickly? What was the expectation of those who gave him his leads? How long-term was the planning for re-introducing him into a position of high level intelligence authority? Who was his sponsor, and what price was the sponsor's 'help'? So many questions - I'm sure that Mr. Mueller has a great deal more.
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Good questions all - I agree - one doesn't become crooked or self-serving overnight. And he had over 30 years in the US Military to perfect it . . .
3
Excellent questions I hope are answered - kudos.
1
I think the facilitation of easy movement from government "service" to the private sector has created a huge conflict of interest. The greed displayed by these officials - at our expense - should infuriate everyone. Getting the monetary incentive out of politics will be our biggest challenge, starting with the big donor bucks.
Flynn's betrayal of his country is shocking to me, but I guess it shouldn't be. He betrayed his lifetime partner - his wife - so why not the USA?
1
And that, my friends, is the quid pro quo.
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I am curious to know if there is a point where the Russian government, who has clearly used Trump and his family and associates as operatives to their advantage on sanctions, decide that the operation is failed. If so, what happens then? Do they continue to infiltrate our government in other ways or do they circle the wagons on Trump, our President?
10
I find it quite disturbing thinking about Mr. Flynn, newly minted National Security Advisor tweeting during the Inauguration about his own financial/personal interests. Did he think about the significance of the day and the ceremony? I suspect he thought only of what it meant for him. The word venal comes to mind.
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That word, 'venal', (capable of being bought or obtained for money or other valuable consideration), pretty much describes this whole administration, top to bottom.
3
Another word springs to mind, albeit not fit for print here.
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As much as I want to know what happened, I believe this sort of release of data by committee members and subsequent reporting jeopardizes both the investigation and Mueller's job safety.
Re Investigation: yes, we need to know, but no, we don't need to know it from select committee members. It smacks of partisanship - exactly what the GOP wants so the GOP can rail against Democrats as partisan players.
Re Mueller's Investigation: yes, we need to know, but not yet. Each crumb of information that is shared outside of any of the investigations, further enrage the unstable man posing as the president.
trump's attorney's are doing everything to keep trump stable, yet each release of critical data that further implicates the president and his transition team, goads - dares - trump to make the inevitable action: firing Mueller. If Mueller is fired, do not expect the GOP to intervene and put Country Over Party. They are showing you who they are, more and Moore each day.
Which is more important? Getting at the whole story or enriching Media bottom lines? I guess we have our answer.
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The process in Congress is already corrupted. It was corrupted fully when Devon Nunes acted on his own to collude with the subject of the Investigation, The White House. All the Congressman here is trying to do is enter the "Whistleblower" and his information into evidence. It is his responsibility and clearly Gowdy is acting as a barrier in that quest. Why would the head of this Investigation not want to consider any pathway to truth? I think we all know the answer and if it takes a public request to enter the evidence, that is on Mr. Gowdy.
6
There have also been conflicting accounts in the media about Flynn's involvement in building nuclear reactors in the Middle East — on the one hand that he was in favor of partnering with the Russians, but, on the other hand, that he was vigorously opposed to allowing Russia to expand their nuclear business interests in the Middle East at the expense of American interests.
2
At what point does the Republican defense of the Trump administration stop. Each story that comes out about Trump and company’s contacts with the Russians clearly points to tacit, if not active, collusion with the Russians. What more do Republicans need in order to sack Trump and save the Republic? Further, other reporting out today confirms that Donald Trump Jr. was actively soliciting opposition research information about Hillary Clinton from the Russians. It's not one story, but an orgy of Russian contacts. It permeates this President's administration.
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Obama's people were talking to Russia about the missile defense system in Poland during his transition. He ended up removing it. Did he promise them he would remove it before he became president?
4
Did Russia interfere in Obama’s election?
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And also, her emails!!!
When history is written it will show that the Trump presidency, if we all survive to see the end, had been the most incompetent and destructive presidency in the history of our country.
But, we can't not only blame him, let's blame his enablers, the leaders of the Republican Party, and more than 60 million Americans who voted for him.
So there are a lot of people around to blame.
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At least some portion of those 60 million voted for Trump because as decent human beings, it was impossible for them to conceive of someone lying with such relentless, joyful abandon. Even now, they are probably saying to themselves, "Surely there must be SOME element of truth to what he says?" It's this Achilles heel in our psyches, where we must grant the other party a kernel of trust in order to function as a group, that allows psychopaths to flourish among us from the boardroom to the Oval Office.
1
Trump campaigned on promises to improve U.S.-Russian election. Asked by reporters if the United States should sanction Russia for alleged interference in the U.S. elections, Trump replied: “I think we ought to get on with our lives.” So he probably did intend to lift the sanctions President Obama imposed on Russia.
According to the article, Michael Flynn stopped working as an advisor to ACU Strategic Partners on the nuclear power plant project in June 2016. So, the assertion that Flynn stood to gain financially from the lifting of sanctions is just a possibility, not a probability. ACU’s senior scientist Thomas Cochran told the Washington Post that “General Flynn firmly believed in the necessity of the project from a U.S. national security perspective.” So the probability is that Flynn continue to promote the project as a member of the Trump campaign and Trump transition team because believed it would increase stability in the Middle East and improve U.S.-Russia relations.
Flynn was a private citizen on Inaugural Day Jan. 20, 2016, the day he allegedly spoke to Alex Copson of ACU Strategic Partners. He didn’t become Trump’s national security advisor until Nov. 18, 2016. So it’s difficult to see what crime he committed in predicting—incorrectly—that Trump would lift the sanctions.
1
I should have typed that Michael Flynn accepted Trump's offer to become national security advisor in November 2016 but was a private citizens until Inaugural Day, Jan. 20, 2017.
Except Inauguration Day was January 20th 2017. The same day became National Security Advisor to the President (because until then he couldn't have been the National Security Advisor to President Trump because he wasn't President before noon on January 20th 2017). But he had accepted the offer to become the National Security Advisor on November 18, 2016. So he had over two months to continue to make plans with both the incoming Administration and ACH Strategic Partners.
All of which were predicated on Trump's plans to immediately lift the sanctions against Russia. Which alarmed Congress enough that they passed additional sanctions on Russia that Trump has not felt obligated to enforce (for some reason). Ultimately Flynn wasn't predicting anything months in advance. He was responding to what he knew was the Administration's plans to remove sanctions.
4
Umm, Inauguration Day was Jan. 20 of 2017, not 2016. Kind of invalidates your whole argument there, doesn't it?
"The whistle-blower, Mr. Cummings said, is willing to meet with Mr. Gowdy if he agrees to protect the person’s identity."
Good luck with that. The name of the whistleblower will be on Putin's desk by the end of the week, if not sooner, for "immediate action" to discourage other potential snitches.
Trusting someone like Trey "Benghazi" Gowdy with sensitive info like this seems like an especially bad idea. Next time go to Mueller.
In the meantime, I'd hire some private security if I were the whistleblower.
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Is it weird that my new knee jerk to these kinds of allegations is to check with Seth Abramson?
9
Oh what, and on whom, Flynn must have for the Special Counsel to have agreed to only charge him for lying to FBI in exchange for his cooperation...
Not many bigger fish than the National Security Adviser....
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So what if Gen Flynn had his, own, personal, get-right-quick plan and Obama's Russian sanctions got in his way? What has this to do with Pres. Trump conspiring with the Russian government to illegally influence the 2016 U.S. presidential elections?
8
"What has this to do with Pres. Trump conspiring with the Russian government to"....And if what you say was true, then why would Mueller let Flynn cop a guilty plea to a single far smaller charge?
22
batazoid -- We just don't know yet, do we? We might find out that Trump also had skin in that game. We might find out that Trump and Flynn had been working on this together for months. We might find out that the Russian Government would make a lot of money on this and was working with the Trump folks might make it all happen. Or we may find out it was just Flynn. We just don't know. We do know there is a lot of Russia smoke around Trump. And where there is smoke, we are apt to see a fire.
9
That's exactly why there's an investigation. It might be that Trump is completely clean. If so, he should have no problems cooperating with the investigation. As it stands, Trump seems to go out of his way to tweet just how innocent he is and how much this is all a witch hunt. Flynn being charged with SO little often indicates that he's ratted out superiors - a common tactic in criminal law to 1) persuade people to give up people above them 2) to hide what you know from the defense team. If you charge someone with everything you learned, that all goes on the public record and is privy to the other team. As a prosecutor, you don't want that.
16
That Michael Flynn is utterly corrupt, and was eager to use his political position to advance the private pecuniary interests of a former paying client is no longer shocking at this point. The question is whether this particular part of the Trump-Russia connection leads further into the Administration or outside the White House. As of now, it would appear to be the latter, in which case, the other facets of Mr. Flynn's case are the pieces of the puzzle on which the public needs to focus.
34
The circumstantial evidence indicates Flynn and Trump made common cause throughout the campaign to keep a corrupt bargain with Putin. More money and power for them. More license for Putin to expand Russian power and influence.
Look at the evidence: Trump's reticence during the campaign to acknowledge Russian interference, despite CIA briefings; Trump's hiring of Flynn despite Obama's pointed warning; Trump's unsuccessful attempt to remove sanctions against Russia.
10
Convincing yourself that Flynn went behind Trumps back and hid all contacts from him is incredibly naive. But as you say, we'll see what Mueller finds with his subpoena of Deutche Bank re Trumps bank accounts. But it's not looking good for Trump (and possibly for Pence either).
5
With Flynn spending so much time working on behalf of Russia, Turkey, ACU Strategic Partners, etc., when would he have found the time to carry out the duties of national security advisor?
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I served with the US Army in Germany during the Cold War, and in 2012 in Afghanistan--a country very damaged by its Russian occupation. Russian remains a hostile nation, adversarial to the U.S.
Thus, it is outrageous and a borders on betrayal for an American general to be thinking self-profit when he was entrusted with the job of US national security.
415
These sanctions were put in place by Obama in Dec of '16... specifically to cause problems for the incoming administration. This is the Democrats trying to sabotage the international relations of the entire country as a political retribution for losing to Trump.
1
The sanctions were put into place because Russia was interfering in our election process. Your repeated insistence to make everything political is disgusting. Whether Trump took part or not, there was interference by a foreign power that had to be addressed.
Trump and Co should have waited until after the inauguration to raise the issue of the sanctions with the Russians. That is the appropriate procedure in our government. You don't pretend you are in charge before you are inaugurated.
8
Sanctions were put in place to punish Russia for interfering with the election. The incoming administration should have given them a full throated endorsement. Instead, they see them as ostensibly an admission that the Russians tried to help Trump. Furthermore, read Rep. Cummings recent letter to Rep. Gowdy. It's very disturbing that playing footsies with the Russians doesn't seem to bother Congressional Republicans.
13
The sanctions were formed before Trump was elected. Not only is Obama the reason the economy is actually doing well heis also a member of the psychic friends network. The sanctions are a rational response to a cyberwar opponent Putin is far cagier than Trump.
9
Week one Trump asked the State department to come up with a Unilateral Plan to remove Russian Sanctions. The State department was alarmed and notified McCain and Congress Members. This lead to new Russian Sanctions and Congressional Control to be Enacted 10/1 but still hasn't been implemented. When will Republicans in Congress hold this President and his Administration to account? They fail every day at governing and reigning in Trump. We must make 2018 a real reckoning for the GOP.
A Quid pro quo, the Lifting of Russian Sanctions, a Change to the Republican Platform on Ukraine and pro-Russia policies, in return for Dirt on HRC, Emails, Disinfo Campaign, &targeting of Fake News, Bots and Trolls. Mr Mueller is working quietly, diligently to locate and charge the guilty. Thank you for your Service and your team!
357
Hate to tell you this but if you are correct:
1) a scientist will tell you that the origin of this saga is HRC and her acts
2) an engineer will tell you that the root cause of this saga is HRC and her acts
...
n) a Trump supporter will tell you that the POTUS was right on the money. (pun intended)
Because if HRC did not commit the acts, there would have been no grounds.
Actually Trump signed new sanctions against Russia. Your information is fake. This has nothing to do with Trump at all as he has done the exact opposite of what Flynn needed him to do.
Back in October Tillerson eliminated the State Department office that facilitated sanction policy. Now it's one person left to handle all communication and coordination with stake holders from political to business as well legal aspects.
A functioning State Dept. was too threatening to the Trump agenda.
60
Trey Gowdy investigate Republicans? Silly Democrats, that's not what the Oversight Committte is for when Republicans hold all the power. I'm sure Mr. Gowdy would be quite happy to investigate the whistleblower. Can't have people going around casting aspersions on good, God-fearing Republicans who are just trying to become billionaires!
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Tomorrow's headline courtesy of Gowdy and McCarthy:
"New Congressional Investigation Into Benghazi"
2
Drip, drip, drip. Things are really starting to percolate.
My favorite part is this:
The office of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III was aware of the witness’s account and asked Cummings not to release the information until the special counsel had taken “certain investigative steps,” which are now complete, Cummings wrote.
195
Flynn like a lot of former military officers is looking to Shake The Money Tree once they get out of the service. They feel they are entitled to it and that they deserve it.
43
It's the military version of the revolving door, which is the surface component of the real game in DC. The deep component is the looting and kleptocracy. (The deepest component, the deep state, always a tough read, obviously, is a tougher read these days.)
2
This revelation, along with the growing evidence of the planned kidnapping of Fetullah Gulen, increasingly suggest that Flynn and other members of the administration were directly selling policy decisions to foreign governments.
I can't decide if I am more horrified by the abjectly corrupt and treasonous behavior that Flynn and others engaged in, or surprised that they thought they could get away with it.
The "Russia Investigation," as most refer to it broadly, is quickly becoming the single greatest scandal in US history; more important and dangerous than Teapot Dome, Watergate, and Credit Mobilier combined. I wish that were hyberbole, but it's not everyday that a former general literally, LITERALLY, sell US foreign policy decisions to the highest bidder.
I increasingly suspect that this is also what happened during the campaign, and why Flynn felt free to behave this way during the administration; Trump & Co. weren't blackmailed by the Russian government, they were literally bribed (with cash) and were promised the White House.
522
"This revelation, along with the growing evidence of the planned kidnapping of Fetullah Gulen, increasingly suggest that Flynn and other members of the administration were directly selling policy decisions to foreign governments. "
Doesn't it seem like that is anything new. Hillary Rodham Clinton directly and indirectly indicated that policy decisions would be based on campaign contributions from foreign countries that helped her Presidential campaign. They contributed heavily to the Clinton Foundation. Now that she has lost, income into the Clinton Foundation has all but dried up.
You acted shocked and surprised.
Obama did the same thing during the 2012 Presidential campaign. Foreign Donors to Presidential campaigns are a problem and not one that is limited to one specific party.
correct! But to Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Israel. That's what the evidence shows so far.
Flynn talked about it before he was officially sworn in and became a federal employee. Hillary was selling US Policy decisions while she actually was the Secretary of State -- which is more egregious?
Flynn was corrupt and I wouldn't be surprised if he was an Obama plant in Trump's campaign.
Now we are getting down to the nitty gritty. Follow the money. More to come.
119
I said it a few days ago--as a businessman, communicating with Russians was as normal for Trump as getting up in the morning. That's why he doesn't understand what all the fuss is about. That's why he keeps saying Flynn is a good guy and doesn't deserve to have his life blown up just because he communicated with the Russians.
Still, the truly remarkable aspect of this story is how everyone in TrumpWorld defines criminality for everyone else (Clintons) but refuses to recognize why their own behavior is criminal. And 63 million, maybe a few less now, are willing to accept Trump's assessment of the Clintons without evidence and will continue to refuse to acknowledge the existence of evidence implicating Trump/Flynn/Manafort/Kushner/Trump Jr/ etc. etc. etc.
That such a large portion of the American electorate can be persuaded so easily when there is no evidence but cannot be persuaded at all when there is a mountain of evidence does not bode well for the future of American democracy.
316
If dealing with Russia was so normal, why all the lying about it?
108
propaganda is a significant issue. I don't know a lot about manipulating people, but I expect it uses the weaknesses and biases of the listeners to believe the lies, while stroking and supporting the same weaknesses and biases. These propogandists know their business.
4
Irony that the Chinese may be better informed under a totalitarian government than Americans with so much freedom to read and believe nonsense and outright lies.
2
Gowdy's job is to distract and delay any actions as long as possible while throwing out as much obfuscation as possible.
90
Correct, and we will know it is the end of Trump as soon as Gowdy and other Republicans break with Trump. They will gladly welcome Mike Pence. And it will be curtains for Trump and his associates.
4
I don't know how to react to this news. On the one hand, it's nice to know that Mr. Flynn didn't sell America short for ideological or traitorous reasons, but, on the other hand, what are we to make of a former General in our military selling out America for, a literal, 30 pieces of silver?
246
Rick, I hope one thing the Justice Department makes of Flynn's behavior is a deal that requires him to do a little time in the federal pen in addition to testifying against Trump and his cronies about their plans to profit from Trump's presidency.
14
It is long past time to stop lionizing every person who puts on a uniform and carries a gun in this country (I come from a family heavily invested in the military.)
Most of them are good people, but you are not automatically "Hero For Life" because you chose to fight in one of our immoral and unjust wars.
28
Surely you know exactly how to react. Give it another thought and if still uncertain, examine your conscience and your personal code of conduct closely.
2