How did we let ourselves get into this position ? We have, sitting in the Oval Office a "man" who, along with his 3 oldest offspring, can't be trusted to serve on the boards of nonprofit organizations. Because they can't be trusted to keep their little, dirty, greasy hands out of the till. If ANY other president had received this kind of a rebuke from a judge, they'd be impeached and out of office before you could say the phrase "duplicitous sleazebags".
20
New term for outright lying to the FBI:
"MichaelFlynning It"
That should be his legacy.
11
Judge Sullivan has sent little Michael back to his corner to think if there just might be something else he wants to tell Mueller. And little Michael was probably shaking in his boots at the word "treason". That will sober him up.
13
Thank God we have brilliant, ethical and patriotic people like Judge Emmet Sullivan in our courts. If we get through this mess, it will be because of people like Judge Sullivan and Attorney General Barbara Underwood.
20
If Judge Sullivan seemed a little overly harsh toward Flynn (could the general be charged with treason? he asked the prosecutor), know that the judge has read the redacted part of the charges. I’m interested to see just how far Flynn went in “selling out his country.”
11
Don't blame Trump, it's the glyphosate, hormones, antibiotics, nickel, mercury, copper, chromium, arsenic, aluminum, lead, fluoride, and plastic he has been eating that now reside in his brain that has clouded his judgement.
Obviously he thinks it's great so he is going out of his way to ensure the rest of the population benefit from ingesting these chemicals so that they will think the same way he does.
4
When they finish this investigation and trials, Mueller and (especially?) his younger teammates on the "Russian investigation" should be appointed to the Supreme Court. Perhaps, even, by a Democrat President.
6
If Flynn doesn't use this 90 day reprieve to fire his current defense team, and put an end to the "I'm the victim here!" nonsense, they should throw the book at him.
I sincerely hope he got the judges message, i.e. "Stop lying!".
6
Richard Nixon had one thing right: the American people do deserve to know that their president is not a crook.
2
Once he is sentenced, can and will this disgraced former General be stripped of his titles and of his military pension as, arguably, he should be?
I understand that he has helped the Meuller investigation quite a bit (which is, incidentally, why I stopped before suggesting he be denied the honor of burial in a US military cemetery), but lying to the FBI and serving covertly (unregistered) as an agent of a foreign government (especially one controlled by an authoritarian who makes it a crime to speak truth about a genocide) and engaging in unauthorized and meant-to-have-been-kept-secret foreign policy conversations with an arch rival nation on behalf of your unelected favorite candidate is unbecoming of any member of our our military, let alone of a General. If ever there were a need to set an example for other would-be perpetrators, this certainly seems to be one, lest other Generals and Admirals, who almost certainly have been privy to confidential, maybe even top secret, national security/defense and other material that has not yet been declassified, get the idea that maybe they, too, can engage in similar or worse behavior and still get away relatively unscathed simply by later feeding some information to an investigative body. Perhaps worse than what Flynn did is the bad model he set for the future and the doubt and possible distrust of our military leaders and national security officials that his actions introduced into the minds and hearts of the American people.
8
The Judge offered a valuable lesson for the country. No one is above the law and the rule law applies equally to all. Beyond that, pleading guilty, cooperating to earn a reduced sentence, then claiming innocence on the eve of sentencing cannot be tolerated. Trump, Fox news and Flynn's attorneys blistered, exposed for torturing the truth. All to obscure the gravity of Flynn's conduct in a lame attempt to undermine Mueller and fig leaf Trump.
The Judge delivered a blow for justice and against nonsense before his court.
8
We have a lying president who may value his family's personal finances over the foreign policy interests of the United States. We are seeing on almost a daily basis the deception practiced by Trump and the spin he uses to counter the so called enemies of the people. This president could send our troops into harms way if it profits his family finances which should give pause to patriotic GOP politicos. They fear Trump's tweets and his rabid cult of followers but once the Mueller report comes out and the democratic House uncovers all the shady dealings of the Trump family they may worry about their re-election.
3
So Flynn still thought he could get away with the lie that he was tricked by the FBI. That must be added to the other betrayals he committed. I don't know if this court could bust him to Private Recruit, take away his retirement benefits and give him a Dishonorable Discharge, but that would be least he deserves.
10
What all of the press seems to know but few if any come out and say is that anything that Donald Trump does is almost always for the wrong reasons . That is primarily because he is only interested in helping himself and his family. The sham that has been his presidency is a front for all that will be of benefit to himself . Preserving protecting , and upholding the country and the Constitution of the United States and its people is the last thing on this man’s mind . We call this under normal circumstances , a fraud.
And when we understand this very fundamental fact, nothing about his actions will surprise us, and when the findings from Robert Mueller and from the Southern District of New York finally arrive , they should not surprise us either .
8
Part of Flynn's sentence ought include the removal of his military title, awards, pension and veterans benefits. His actions and choices, despite his later cooperation with Meuller investigation, besmirched the military, the office of National Security Advisor, and cost American tax payers tons of money that otherwise could have been spent on, for example, providing needed care to injured veterans, help to their survivors, or better protection for our sisters and brothers still out there risking their life and limbs in order to keep the likes of Putin and his beloved KGB and Erdogan's thugs from compromising or taking over our nation.
That it's already started to happen is even more reason Flynn should lose all military/veteran benefits.
If this consequence cannot legally be doled out by a civilian court, then his sentence should include a referral to court-martial and recommendation that they administer above-notes consequences.
17
Indeed. Another NYT article reports that CBS may be paying $20-40 Million in legal fees of one of its disgraced executives. Can you even begin to imagine how many tens of millions of dollars Flynn has cost American taxpayers, both directly on investigation and trial dealing with him AND on cleaning up the mess he helped create for our country?
Flynn should not just lose his title and benefits, but he and the other people or organizations found guilty as part of the Mueller investigations should be made to pay attorneys fees and costs -- to reimburse the American people for the expenses they cost us (those that can be calculated monetarily).
7
Look there is enough evidence, just on emoluments, forget Mueller, to remove DJT from office.
He remains in office now due to the GOP, and on Jan 3rd he'll remain there due to the Dems.
The Dems are afraid to remove DJT because of a likely violent reaction from his base similar to the yellow vests in France.
DJT has already been dog whistling to them as to this matter. 'The people will revolt if I'm impeached'.
As I've said before, DJT will do ANYTHING to keep from getting on the wrong side of "you're fired"; there are no boundaries.
13
@Prometheus
Dems and others may also not want to empower Pence, who would probably immediately pardon Trump (as in Ford-Nixon but for the wrong reasons), making him invulnerable to further investigation and prosecution, and perhaps impeding the investigation and prosecution of others). There is also the matter of the largely Trump-cowing Republican dominated Senate. The House might impeach, but it's then up to the Senate to convict. Would they?
13
Just FYI, kids, it ain’t Pelosi, Schumer, and the rest of us who’re running scared right now. Might wanna check with Trump and McConnell, who suddenly got real, real innarested in caving on The Wall, passing a Senate sentencing reform bill, and banning bump stocks.
Hey, perhaps you’d know this. How many days till Somebody gets subpoena power?
5
Remember when the Emoluments Clause was quaint?
9
@Jeff B
I remember when President Obama was guilty of violating that one, like all the time.
The Judge said it all - traitor and treason. I have been waiting to hear those words since the RNC convention in 2016.I asked here "Are we Stupid? in not seeing the treason by Trump and his band of traitors? I think the Judge answered that question yesterday and chastised both sides for not using the t words.
Of course for the Trump groupies and Fox News those two words are not in their vocabulary. Please let the indictments of Trump and all associates be unsealed before Christmas. This country needs some Christmas presents to show our national nightmare is coming to a close.
24
"I'm really a Democrat. Was all along. Just had to pretend to be a Republican to get elected," tweeted the President after watching the House vote for articles of impeachments.
7
@Chris
Nope, he was never a Democrat either. The only thing Trump has been, all his life, is a con artist.
8
It is very appropriate - and rather underreported - that the judge called Flynn out on parroting the Trump lies and excuses, and Flynn debunked them, admitted he knew the lies were a crime, and was lying when using the excuse.
21
Not ‘ if’ he goes to jail
But ‘when’
12
A judge with a moral compass. He is a great gift to the Amercian people.
Maybe Kavanaugh could from Judge Sullivan.
12
Clearly General Flynn would like to march right back up to the top of the "lock her up" fake conspiracy theory movement, at the expense of the truth and the Rule of Law. Thank you Judge Sullivan.
15
Ironic that a guy who yowls "Lock Het Up" about a woman who was never even brought up on charges of a crime, let alone convicted of such, now seeks to avoid being locked up for serious crimes that helped harm our great nation in ways that we're just beginning to experience.
9
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization.
Seems like the perfect solution. Don't indict Trump. Indict his entire criminal enterprise by naming all of his corporations and other entities.
24
It is presumably why the day Mueller was handed the FBIs investigation, he spent 3 and 1/2 hrs reading it and then immediately phoned 13 of the countries top financial crimes and RICO lawyers to put his team together
8
I'm am, frankly, in no mood to hear nonsense about the 'system working.' The system should never have been so dependent upon the integrity and zeal of one man, Robert Mueller, as it became. We should be grateful to him for having those qualities when we needed them, but all of those that put us into this position should be, must be, held to account.
I can't think of a single living Republican elected official that I would let off the hook. John McCain was the only one that stood up when it mattered.
Our national nightmare is not yet over. We cannot stop until this enemy has been ground underfoot. But I think a corner has been turned.
One historical lesson we should have learned from Mussolini: crime and fascism often have common origins.
43
In many respects, I felt sorry for Michael Flynn when he appeared before Judge Sullivan yesterday, considering his downfall after his many years of faithful service to our country as a military officer. In contrast, Trump has no record of selfless service. If Trump has a loyalty higher than himself, I am waiting for that to be manifested, because I have not seen it to date, and his corrupt management of the Trump Foundation makes that point much better than I possibly can.
11
Common sense and common decency are beyond the ken of Mr. Trump. The godfather, who is president, walks to a different beat - one which asks 'what's in it for me?'
8
I think that it is pretty clear that Donald Trump uses his office to enrich himself. He really needs to read William L. Riordin's interview with Geprge Washington Plunkittt and understand the difference between honest graft and dishonest graft. Alas. Donald Trump is not an honest man. Consequently. I do not foresee him improving the lot of the republic and its citizens as he blatantly fills his own pockets and those pf his family and cronies. There is tolerable corruption and then there is intolerable corruption. President Trump practices the latter sort.
5
So Flynn, who spent most of his life in government service, didn't know that you're not supposed to lie to law enforcement officials? Please...these guys think everyone is as dumb as they are.
I used to work in state government and was questioned regarding an improper gift investigation involving my boss. I didn't ask for an attorney and I knew that if I lied under questioning I could be liable.
We've allowed a criminal enterprise to take charge of the federal government. Hopefully, we're beginning to take it back.
21
And what ever happened to Republican cries for stiffer sentences for even minor violations in order to enhance the deterrent effect of punishments? What in Glynn's upcoming sentencing will deter other military and national security leaders (or others) from selling out our country in favor of big $$ foreign lobbying and consulting jobs, from engaging in unauthorized communication and advocacy with foreign governments (including our serious rivals) while an entirely different administration is still in office?
Flynn should face a court martial for defying and circumventing President Obama, who was STILL COMMANDER IN CHIEF throughout 2016 and much of January 2017.
2
This Holiday Season, I’m thankful for Robert Mueller and all those working with him. I’m thankful for Judge Emmet Sullivan who gave Americans a glimmer of hope that Michael Flynn should be punished for crimes against the United States. I’m thankful I’m a life long New Yorker and happy Barbara Underwood is our Attorney General, and I look forward to Letitia James becoming our next Attorney General. They offer us our best hope of saving this country.
21
December 19, 2018
The upside down world of Trump is not what makes America great - it is those that are free to think about the laws that guide and strengthen our way of life and confidence when and where justice is in need to deliver its justice - for all by and for equal justice by laws that are what makes for honor and grace living well and smart.
4
Why is he still in the White House?
12
We elected him, and a Congress that hasn’t had jack to say about this lunacy. One hopes we’ve learned to show up and vote.
5
@phoebe,
Because Obama did an excellent job.
3
@ Robert
Who are you calling "we"? The Electoral College elected Trump, the American people (those who voted) did NOT.
5
So much for Trump being the "law and order president". Not that most of us thought that a lifelong grifter and cheat would conceivably enforce the laws. He probably avoids national security briefings because he's afraid the agents will arrest him or charge him for some of the many crimes he knows he's committed. It's unlikely that Whitey Bolger considered inviting FBI agents over for a Christmas party for the same reason.
8
Bring Trump before the bar of justice quickly before he can further stack the courts with his toadies. It is my dearest wish that he achieve his goal of a presidential First - the first ex-president to do hard time. Only this will start to erase the blot upon this country that his presidency represents.
19
An excellent Christmas present for Mr. Trump (or a holiday card sent to the WH):
A plaque or card saying,
" NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW"
11
Another editorial that ends on the optimistic note that no one's above the law.
Yet as we stand by, patiently and helplessly watching Trump continue in his job, evidence of crimes already disclosed, blatantly continuing his transgressions before our very eyes (the lying letter about Don Jr's meeting with the Russians, the confession to Lester Holt about firing Comey, dictating recent defendants' sentences in his tweets, etcetera, etcetera), the only rational projection we can come up with is that Trump MAY be impeached, removed from office, and convicted for his crimes.
Why is that? Because the newly empowered House Democrats may or may not decide to take prosecutorial action. To quote Representative Jerrold Nadler: “The fact that you find impeachable offenses and the fact that you think you can prove impeachable offenses...doesn’t necessarily mean the offenses rise to the level of importance where you should impeach.”
The reality of American "justice" is that it is very discriminatory. Many people are above the law. No one knows it better than those of us who are not.
167
@entity.z
When do all of his lying misdeeds culminate in high crimes and misdemeanors?
Seems we've more than met that threshold a long time ago.
Let's get on with it.
Pence is crazy too but he's not as mentally unstable as Trump and I doubt he'd start WW3, like Trump would.
18
@entity.z
He isn't above the law. But the law isn't always fast. And impeachment isn't run by the justice department, it's a political process.
12
@Butterfly
Yes Pence is, that crazy. He's no better than Trump, and if Trump were to be impeached, Pence could in theory, like LBJ could have in theory, been the longest serving President next to Roosevelt. I would work like this, Trump is halfway though is second term (assuming he wins a second term). Pence would ascend to the presidency. Pence would serve the second half of Trumps term, but then he could run for the presidency on his own ticket, assuming he's elected, he would serve that term run for reelection, and assuming he wins a second term, he would serve that for a total of 10 years.
Pence is no Roosevelt, and I for one, do not want some half crazed evangelical president.
13
It seems Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome H. Powell and NYT have only one goal: Destroy Trump by whatever means. And, for certain, Mueller has only one goal: Destroy Trump by whatever means.
That's a lot of visceral deep-swamp hate being exorcised at the expense of the America polis.
A punishing recession is a given as is House impeachment proceedings 2019.
4
@Alice's Restaurant Powell is Trump's nominee.
17
Yes , everyone is out to get trump, poor poor trump. Maybe it’s that he lies , and now proof is beyond a doubt.
3
You sold your country out.
I've been waiting to hear these words.
Thank Judge Sullivan.
25
White collar financial crimes should not be prosecuted, no one was killed.
The FBI is corrupt, the CIA is always wrong.
Witnesses that committed crimes and turn on their co-conspirators are rats, flipping should be illegal.
The media including TV comedy shows should be prosecuted...for something.
Political opponents should be jailed.
- Trump
14
Thanks to judgr Sullivan, perhaps FOX News aficionados, including their #1 tweeting fan, will get the idea that -truth and law- will eventually trump propaganda, conspiracy theories and lies.
8
Trump has lied so prolifically for so long he is incapable of telling the truth. He has no moral compass like any pathological liar and narcissist.
15
Don't you just love that it was an African-American man who reminded Flynn what this country stands for?
14
Why don't NY Times reporters use the language, or at least cover the substance, of its editorial writers? This editorial lays out factual information that often is under-reported in news articles, here or in any other MSM papers. Is it because they're afraid "prevarication" is too big a word for American newspaper readers to understand?
3
"Trumpian Spin Had Its Day in Court"
Michael Flynn’s judge just upheld "the rule of law" a primary foundation of American way of life.
Michael Flynn is: "A sitting national security adviser, former head of an intelligence agency, retired lieutenant general and 33-year veteran of the armed forces knows he should not lie to federal agents. He does not need to be warned it is a crime to lie to federal agents to know the importance of telling them the truth.”"
He knows a lie is a lie, yet he and his attorneys: "attempt to minimize the seriousness of those false statements to the FBI." Judge Sullivan noted: "“Not only did you lie to the FBI, you lied to senior officials in the incoming administration,” "
"Trump and his advisers have defended themselves by attacking the rule of law and the impartiality of judges, calling FBI agents Nazis, the Justice Department corrupt and Mueller’s team politically motivated fraudsters." Trump and his advisers and Michael Flynn are an unholy alliance of deceit in America. If these claims don't reveal a similarity to what the Russian government with Putin is like, I don't know what would.
A slap on the wrist will not do. Flynn and the rest who have been convicted or plead guilty need to see the inside of a federal jail for some period of time to contemplate their crimes against the American people.
6
Thank-you Judge Sullivan.
10
Nothing but the truth? Listening, Times Editorial Board?
Let's investigate all Foundations. left, right and center.
As Woodward and Bernstein long ago declaimed:
FOLLOW the MONEY: RED and BLUE, none of
it pure WHITE, but often dirty shades of GRAY.
2
@son of publicus - Charity Navigator is one of the well-respected groups that investigate charities. For example, the Clinton Foundation was given an A rating, and shows that 91% of donations were used for actual charitable purposes. The Clintons' tax returns show they didn't receive a penny from the foundation. Obviously Trump's foundation wouldn't make the cut.
14
A Clinton judge, doing Clinton retro-work--"Lock her up." If the Editorial Board truly believes what Flynn did was worse than the Leavenworth-for-life crimes that Comey and Strzok covered up for Hillary--we are truly headed to an afternoon at the Bastille.
2
@Alice's Restaurant Prior to being appointed to the Federal bench by Bill Clinton, he had been appointed to positions by both Reagan and Bush. I think you are aware that they were both republicravens.
12
You DO know that the attack on the Bastille was part of an uprising by leftish and liberal people who had got tired of the greed, theft, sneering and irresponsibility of a king, his self-indulgent wifey, their shabby kids and relatives, and the various leeches he’d promoted to high office, yes?
12
"By contrast, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, a charity that provided no charity, quite properly received none from the New York attorney general’s office."
I just looked up the definition of "charity" online and it says: "the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need".
Now the definition does not say the giving has to be "to others in need" but "to those in need". To the "Foundation" board, Donald J Trump is "in need" of adoration, praise, love, and utmost of MONEY. It seems to me that is within the definition of charity.
Is this another witch hunt to "GET TRUMP" (as he put in recently). Give the man a break - I bet he is already regretting why did he run for president in the first place now that has resulted in all the dirt being dug up.
So he can't even be charitable to himself and his kids?
1
@Notmypesident too funny! I Too bad some folks do not understand the difference between what the dictionary says and what the law says.
A. "Do you swear to tell the truth, & nothing but the truth so help you God?" Or...............
B."Do you swear to tell lies, & nothing but lies so help you God?"
3
How pathetic that Trump et al may be banned from serving on non-profit association boards but still run the White House. What is WRONG with your country, people?!?!?!?!? Why can't you fix this!
15
About now Trump has to be feeling like Custer at Little Big Horn. And the similarities are many, down to their fatal egos and flowing manes. Witch hunt? More like fish in a barrel.
But, ultimately, it is not at all funny. Just read Michael Lewis's "The Fifth Risk", in which he details the methodical destruction of the federal government that is ongoing behind the circus. After reading it, especially the sections on the Department of Energy, the USDA, EPA and FDA, hope you can sleep.
197
@Michael - Mr. Lewis' book is about the Trump administration, an aberration of historical proportions that is not going to last forever - it just feels that way now.
The recent midterms give me hope that this country can still right itself and regain its soul. It was not so long ago that our citizenry was more easily bound by a collective outrage in the face of injustice. Men like Judge Emmet Sullivan are still around to remind us of what that looks like when put into practice.
12
@Michael
Does the DOE still exist? Haven’t read/heard anything DOE related since the stable genius appointed that guy, what’s his name, who didn’t know the DOE’s mission and responsibilities.
15
@Agent 99 - Rick Perry. Trump will be pleased to know that I had to look it up. That's how effective he is.
3
Trump reminds of the guys who were never in the service, bragging about their special forces conquests. I remember when he once said that he was one of the most recruited athletes in his state, while in high school. Trump reminds me of Mike Tyson. When Buster Douglas was beating the snot out of Tyson during round 5, at the end of the round, Tyson nods his head in a subservient manner , like a little disciplined boy towards Buster Douglas. Later of course, Tyson would bite ears to save face, when taking a beating by a better Holyfield. My point is, once you ignore Trumps fake bravado, he is really just a soft privileged spoiled boy, without a spine and he folds. Whether it’s his toy wall or he has to fire someone. He does not have the stomach or spine to fight. He hires others to do it for him and does not even have the guts to back them. He is truely spineless.
5
It's amazing what the prospect of some serious jail time will do to improve the character of a committed Trumpist.
Judge Emmet G. Sullivan has been roundly criticized for an outburst deemed intemperate. For my part, I say "Bravo!" It is way past time for someone with authoritative gravitas to call out these self-dealing grifters who have put our country in-hock to foreign powers who mean us and their iwn citizens nothing but ill.
All the while, the grifter ruling class screams about the alleged misdeeds of its political opponents. May General Flynn refine his new career as lead soprano in the Oval Office soap opera.
6
Judge Sullivan's disgust, and his forcing General Flynn to acknowledge that he knew he was lying and he knew when he did it that it was wrong, makes him a hero in today's world of tip-toeing around the truth that our executive branch has been taken over by a bunch of manipulative lying crooks.
Flynn does deserve jail. He did sell his country out. Lawyers say it wasn't "treason" and the judge apologized for bringing up the word - but the vast majority of Americans believe that when one works in secret as an agent for a foreign country while at the same time taking the top National Security job in the USA - one is treasonous in intent if nothing else. Does this not describe Flynn's actions? Just because he was charged with "lying" and not "spying" doesn't mean we don't understand what he did.
This conspiracy theorist who got the crowds chanting "lock her up" should experience a jail cell. I hope Judge Sullivan still has one ready for him in another 6 months.
15
It seems that all these convicted felons from Cohen to Manafort to Flynn others such as Giuliani et al. are looking at these convictions, guilty pleas and punishments as a blip in their lucrative careers, a quid pro quo like a mere business transaction. The template seems like - use the power to make money, if get caught blame the system as acceptable process mistakes, when everything fails -cooperate with the prosecutors for nominal sentencing or community service, come out with an ascension to book deals, expert allocutions on one of the TV channels and/or run for congress.
What is missing here is the contrition of guilt, remorse of wrongdoing that had devastating impact on the country. Flynn’s conduct of blaming the FBI while pleading guilty during sentencing is a prime example. He thought he can simply walk away and restart his career without even understanding the devastating impact of his actions. While there is financial and family sufferings, these folks need time it takes understand meaning of justice. Along with Muller, Judge Sullivan stands out in this corrupt cesspool.
11
If the idea that no US person is above the law shall survive, that idea must somehow be extended to cover the person of the President of the United States of America.
The constitutional edifice that has been constructed around that person may possibly - and wisely - protect a president against abusive intrusions in the performance of his duties. What we have in the case of Mr Trump, however, is someone who abuses all privilege and turns it into a fortress of immunity from behind which he feels free to demean the substance of our core beliefs.
Trump is assaulting and diminishing our common, shared constructs regarding decency, honesty, respect for law and justice, family, education, character and rectitude.
Trump is battling our certainty that truth has permanent value and falsehood is an abomination. That public service is not meant to principally be a source of privilege and enrichment.
There is no hope that the remnants of the Republican party shall somehow find sufficient dignity and character to rescue this government. The hope we think we still have resides in the justice establishment, which Trump’s minions are busy re-seeding in their image. As for the rest of us, we’re using tired concepts of past ages to confront a very new evil. Decent people will not replace this mob.
Some new refuge at law must be found. Let’s hope the legal edifice shall be able to function and shake this viper off.
In time.
4
By brining up that he was ambushed by the FBI, Flynn’s attorneys have once again demonstrated that the most challenging thing when trying to decipher the Trump world is how to separate criminal behavior from incompetence.
4
When you get to that level of leadership, incompetence IS criminal!
2
The FBI asked Michale Flynn if he had discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador. The Wall Street Journal appears to be the only mass market newspaper willing to report what Michale Flynn told FBO agents. It quoted an FBI document that says: “The interviewing agents asked FLYNN if he recalled any conversation with [Ambassador Kislyak] in which the expulsions were discussed, where FLYNN might have encouraged KISLYAK not to escalate the situation, to keep the Russian response reciprocal, or not to engage in a ‘tit-for-tat.’ Flynn responded ‘Not really. I don’t remember. It wasn’t ‘Don’t do anything.’”
Flynn’s answer seems to imply he discussed sanctions with the ambassador but did not recall asking the ambassador to do nothing. Trump announced during the transition period that his administration would review the sanctions. So the ambassador already knew the Trump administration planned to review the sanctions. The FBI documents also revealed the agents did not think Flynn was lying.
It is obviously Flynn was charged in hopes he could be pressured to testify that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 election.
So...your arg is that Flynn’s telling the FBI that a) I never did, b) I don’t remember if I did, and c) anyway, I never told them not to do anything, makes it all okay.
Astonishing.
9
@Robert
The question was a three-part question. Flynn's answer can be interpreted different ways. He said "Not really." He told the ambassador that Russia should postpone its retaliation until the Trump administration had time to review the sanctions'" That not really telling the ambassador not to escalate the situation, is it? And it doesn't involve "tit-for-tat" does it? Flynn did tell the ambassador anything he didn't already know. Trump publicly announced he would relieve the sanctions once he rook office. He ended up strengthening the sanctions.
@William Case Yes, the FBI agents said Flynn did not act like he was lying when they interviewed him, but they already had evidence at the time that proved he was lying. They were just observing he was not acting like he was lying - that just means he has a good poker face. Flynn just testified under oath to the judge that he lied. You feel 100% sure there will be no evidence of Russian collusion? Even if not, if will not matter because there have and will have been numerous other crimes found and prosecuted along the way. Collusion was only one part of the mandate given Mueller in the memo kicking off the investigation. Let's see how this turns out.
2
I had to explain to my son last night why a judge would so inject himself into a sentencing hearing, with questions regarding whether enough crimes were charged. My son, the Trump supporter, thought it was political. Why was the judge bringing up "treason?"
I pointed out that judges, and this judge in particular, often chastise federal prosecutors for letting white collar criminals off too easily. And also that judges at bench trials (no jury) or when there are plea agreements, ask a lot of questions. I had a feeling this judge would, and I was thankfully right.
It was a dumb move by Flynn's lawyers to point any finger at the FBI when they were recommending his service warranted forgiveness on a massive scale. It made Flynn look like a crybaby that didn't really think he was guilty which is exactly the reaction the judge rightfully had. Are you guilty or did the FBI trick you? Pick one or the other. You can't have it both ways.
Flynn is despicable. I would agree with Mueller's team that risking his life for his country on so many occasions warrants this forgiveness on a massive scale, but lets just not forget that's what it is. The judge was exactly right to get so angry. He sold us out.
14
Judge Emmet Sullivan reminds me a bit of Judge John Sirica . Judge Sirica played a huge role in breaking open Watergate.
3
The Mueller investigation is expanding? We can't wait any longer.
I'm happy to let it expand but let's know what you know now. The damage to our country continues each day (see our withdrawal from Syria) and I fear the damage will be too great to fix if we wait much longer.
I'm sure it's possible to see a report now and still continue to investigate further. We need to do something to bring down this bandit Presidency.
1
Given that Trump and his thug-like cronies are little more than corrupt criminals, the only thing preventing them from turning this country into a cesspool is their ignorance, incompetence and stupidity.
5
It's almost hard to fault the Donald for being such a Richard (M. Nixon, what did you think?). The key problem he has with telling the truth is that he doesn't acknowledge the concept of objectively facts. I really believe that the ease with which he reverses his own statements and just makes things up is that what he would like to be true (in that moment) makes it so. Unfortunately for us, what is annoying enough in a three year old is downright dangerous if the person doing so is the President of the United States.
5
Maybe Flynn's almost-sentencing is a turning point in the war of words.
Where have the almost ever-present Trump supporters gone from these comment blogs when a continuous stream of truth and evidence proves the error of their positions?
Perhaps we need to admit of our fellow citizens with opposing views that, yes, they too are logical and have the best interests of the country at heart.
It's hard to admit you're wrong, when the stakes are so high and the evidence is so obvious, and your debate practices have been so vitriolic.
Still, we have to live together. Can we not finally put aside the fictions and get back to wishing each other the best for the holidays.
Like it or not, we're still living together.
That the civil penalties imposed in the Trump case are seen as a huge victory is just more evidence that there's our justice system is completely unbalanced. We've all gotten too used to the rich and powerful getting great plea bargains or being "punished" through civil suits for fraud and theft, while poor people are arrested every day and rot in jail for petty offenses and crimes like disorderly conduct (aka causing "public inconvenience").
The consequences of the vast income inequality in our society has resulted in an upside/down justice system. How is it that a 16-year-old can spend years (yes years) jailed at Riker's Island upon the mere accusation of a crime, while the stiffest penalty facing the Trumps - who have now admitted stealing from charity - is being banned from charity boards?
12
In cinematic terms:
Apparently, Flynn served his country ably for many years, but then did a major Darth Vader move and went over to the dark side.
Or, as Mae West described it, he was "pure as the driven snow -- but he drifted..."
6
If Flynn's attorneys allowed their client to plead guilty when he was innocent they should be disbarred. If they lied in the sentencing report they should be referred to the NY Bar's disciplinary committee.
9
@Laurence Bachmann
Agreed! Good point. And one of the attorneys admitted that he and his partner had put that language into the sentencing memo. On the other hand, Flynn signed off on it. He was willing to go along. They should be disciplined. I hope the AUSAs have an agreement with Flynn that he doesn't get to appeal the sentence and then try to weasel out of it by complaining about ineffective assistance of counsel, or prejudice by Judge Sullivan.
2
Yeah, we all know that's not the case.
@PeteH
Why. I bet that is part of the sentencing agreement: no appeals. It is often built in--you don't get to appeal and must cooperate truthfully in other related cases.
1
How beautiful entrusted power is in the service of truth for the sake of justice! What can one say about Flynn, he having allowed himself to be disgraced as did ... and as very high ranking US Army officer in retired status at that? As for the comparison of Judge Sullivan with Trump in terms of public service! ... rather striking for contrast to appreciate what real power looks like, not to mention reason for hope yet in the darkness we've been experiencing.
4
The readers who continue to be mystified as to why Trump is getting a pass with his base on all this criminality, while Hillary would have long ago been ridden out of town on a rail for a fraction of this, need only to do some simple media analytics. Trump's "base" is about 95% correlated with viewership of Fox News. The remaining 5% is covered by 4Chan (incels, Jordan Petersen fans, and the like). On Fox News, little of this is covered, and when it is, it is being wildly spun by the usual coterie of prevaricators who explain to a willing audience how none of this is serious. Hypocrisy is never considered, as the starting point is that all liberals are liars, and all conservatives are American heroes. On 4Chan et al., it gets "lolz" for "trolling the libs." The only way this will eventually be settled is for lots and lots of people to go to jail. I have a feeling that at that point, the lolz will stop.
9
85% of the Republicans and roughly 40% of the general population support the law flouting, morally bankrupt and politically corrupt "President". What does that tell us about their moral compass? Law & Order? Sheer hypocrisy.
15
Thank you, NY Times, for emphasizing the profound importance of an independent judiciary, and judges who care about our government and the conduct of government officials.
I am very disappointed in legal commentators who deem mselves qualified to criticize Judge Sullivan. These wrongly terminated federal prosecutors are so invested in praising Mr Mueller that they have not questioned why Flynn is not getting jail time. Someone who has lived his life on the government's dime should go to jail for lying to Congress. Period.
10
Judge Sullivan is a rare beam of light in our government today.
NYT Please delete the "Would you like to read more articles like this?" survey.
It is a ridiculous idea to ask the reader what they "want" to read as it was when the reagan republicans destroyed our consumer protections with de-regulation and called it giving us "choice".
6
This and the results of the 2018 midterms have renewed my hope. Perhaps we can survive this gawd-awful experiment.
10
One can only marvel at the unscrupulousness of all of the pathological liars in Trump’s orbit. As a group, they’ve made careers by ignoring the rule of law, bullying and lying.
And when lies fail, Flynn, Manafort, Trump himself and the rest regularly fall back on their Plan B portraying themselves victims. Victimhood has been this gangs strategically reliable go-to get out of Dodge technique.
How refreshing to see this tired routine fail to impress both Judge Sullivan and Ms. Underwood and even a Trump supporter on the Manafort jury. Maybe it will be contagious.
8
"I am not a crook."
Oops. That one's already been used.
10
@Texexnv
Actually, Nixon may not have been a crook, although he was a lot of other creepy and illegal things, but this certainly does aptly apply to trump
3
Again - thanks to the judiciary. Someone acting as an adult.
5
Trump appears anxious, ragged, and on edge in the photo, now that the his squawkers are rounded up, coming home to roost, and singing to prosecutors.
Looks like Trump's "The Art of the Deal" has turned to "The Art of the Squeal."
Couldn't happen to a more deserving guy.
With liberty and justice for all. Back to the future
8
What an embarrassment for our great nation- a president who does not know how to perform charity.
At this time of holiday cheer and giving, he is a bad example to every child in this world.
9
The word "Trump" when translated into English means " a new Presidential low reached every day." As written by commenter schenkenberg , " the tsunami of lies, treason, fraud, and previously unimaginable behavior of an American President " may well overwhelm the crook who would be king. It looks like everything in his orbit is under investigation. The Trump Foundation made illegal campaign contributions- where is the GOP now? If Obama had been found to have made a single dollar of illegal contributions the hue and cry in Congress would have been stupendous.
9
Benedict Arnold for the 21st century
7
Lost in the jubilant high-fiving and back-slapping of the NEVER TRUMP Editorial Board is the resounding repudiation of the Mueller investigation by Judge Sullivan. Those were Mueller's prosecutors. That was Mueller's sentencing recommendation. Sullivan trashed both, and in the process hamstrung any plea agreements Mueller may try to strike with future prosecutees. Who is going to trust that Mueller can trade light sentencing for cooperation when judges may decide that Mueller didn't do his job to their exacting standards?....Party hearty, Editors. The hangover will follow.
1
@Albert Edmud very odd interpretation. Mueller's team made the recommendation before Flynn and his attorneys tried to twitter their way out of guilt. The judge called them on it, end of story. The judge will continue to consider Flynn's helping Mueller, has in effect gotten Flynn to help mueller more than flynn wanted to, and them it will all come back to the judge. To claim MUeller is disparaged by this is just weird. Mueller was helped, the truth was helped, and Flynn and FOX news were exposed for trying to elide the truth..Your head is on backwards, Albert Edmud.
7
You really contorting several separate actions to conclude a “repudiation” of the Mueller investigation.
7
@Albert Edmud
Federal judges are never bound by sentencing recommendations from prosecutors and ignore them or disregard them every day. In fact, the plea agreement itself likely states that while the prosecutors agree to make certain recommendations, sentencing will ultimately be determined by the Judge and no guarantees can or have been made.
4
My life in this country is without worth and it I were not 65 percent old I would leave. Our medical system will a disgrace and if you don’t have a lot of money your life is worthless. My good education and hard work did not pay off and I hate being an American
4
@Annie
Hang in there, please. Your good education and hard work probably contributed a great deal to your community and to those you worked with. Medical research is one of the bright points of American science, and every year you hear about new cures or treatments.
We all hate being in Trump's America, but I think the tide is turning. Even in this article and yesterday, the voice of one judge expressed righteous outrage at a high Trump official who betrayed this country. He pushed back against the Fox and Russian attempt to normalize attacks on law and order, on the intelligence agencies, and on truth itself.
Times will get better.
5
@Annie hi, you have a soul and that is worth a lot. I would give you a hug if I could. Trump makes me feel depressed too. It is hard to feel proud when your president is so crooked. Annie, things won't continue like this forever. Hang in there. I have faith in Robert Mueller and the people who work for him. Truth and justice is struggling to persevere, some people are on the side of goodness and decency and they have power and are moving into position. America is a special place and it will shine again. That is my hope. Have hope.
3
Stay tuned, Annie, the House investigations haven’t even begun, yet. There’s more hubris to come out, but the American public needs to see all the “darkness” that Republicans have brought to our country to ensure they never gain power again - never again!
4
"Judge" Jeanine Pirro and President "T" shared the grandiose delusion that Judge Sullivan would castigate the prosecution team and exonerate their good buddy. Still no shame, at long last.
8
So Flynn might get six months in prison. Great! Maybe he can serve his time at Mar-a-Lago and negotiate for his own private golf cart.
1
6 months? And Texas has a woman in prison for 8years just for voting?
11
Now it's gone too far. Trump is dragging down the good people of New York City.
Lois, a commenter from Texas said on this thread... "The truth is: He IS a gangster and has been probably has been his (his whole life). New Yorkers look at what is right and wrong differently than how I was taught. Their moral values are below most peoples' standards. It is almost scary, when you examine this closely. And apparently this has transferred to D. C."
Now that hurts because most of my life, the good and the bad, was played out within New York's city limits. I interacted with all kinds of people and none of them deserve to be equated with the likes of Trump.
So to the Texas commenter I has to reply the following...
"Dear Lois, your self righteous chauvinism is showing. It does no one any good to disparage a whole segment of our population based on geography.
I have lived in NYC most of my life and I can assure you that the majority have ethical and moral principals that will live up to your standards.
Drumpf is an singular individual. People are who they are just because of the way they are hardwired. He responded to his environment in a manner that was natural to him.
You can't blame a whole city for that. And besides, the meanest, nastiest, greediest and aggressive careerists working in NYC, are not native New Yorkers. Self serving miscreants come from all over the country to make it here... even from Texas."
I wish you well... Richard Sussman
6
As others have pointed out, both Judge Sullivan stood strong on the same day and took an exacto knife to the festing boil of lies and corruption that this administration packs into that boil every single day in hopes of making it a too chaotic boil that few in this country will understand. That boil has been nicked and the disgusting contents sprung to the surface to receive the sunlight. But as any good dermatologist will tell you--there's a bigger hard and fetid core there. We're going to have to go in a dig out a little more, before we apply massive amounts of Neosporin and gauze this baby up.
3
@lawrenceb56
Such a gross image but fitting
1
How long is the American public going to put up with this lawless, self serving president? In his own words: Lock (him) up! He has alienated our allies, is in the process of destroying the remaining environment, cozying up to dictators, now we find his 'foundation' was a scam. How much more???? I'm thankful that at least with the new Congress there will be some oversight which has been sorely missing for the past 2 years.
7
The question must be asked: Are Trump supporters secretly tax-cheats, grifters, misogynists or racists who just love how he is all those things and gets away with it? I'd hate to believe that but I've never seen a good reason why any moral, honest, law-abiding citizen could support such a low-life criminal in the White House. Perhaps someone can explain it to me.
10
One word “foxnation”.
4
@Peter Stone. The answer is, yes. A significant percentage of Americans would love to be just like Trump and get away with it, as he has so far. If you haven't met these people, get out more. They're all around you.
4
@Peter Stone
A bigger mystery is why are there ANY female supporters of the GOP ? Do they not have sisters , mothers ,aunts. Do they not want control over their own bodies and equal pay and healthcare for their children ?
1
One cannot forget Flynn on national television at the appalling Republican Convention, yelling “lock her up” as the mob-like crowd parroted this phrase. What goes around...
13
A couple of 'things':
1. Nothing surprising about trump's 'take' on the 'Flynn situation' or the exposure of his donations-taken-in/donations-spent-on-himself "charitable" machinations -- et cet er ARGHH ... et cet er ARGHH ... et cet er ARGHH;
2. I can but hope that Sarah Huckabee Sanders has Sarah Huckabee Sanders nightmares (but, sadly, I've absolutely no reason to even hope that trump has trump nightmares -- even though so many of us do); and
3. Some pundits have suggested that Judge Sullivan's refusal to yet accept the Mueller team's sentencing recommendations in 'the Flynn matter' might impede their efforts to get cooperation agreements 'from' others 'in their sights' -- in that such others might consider themselves all-to-uncertain to 'get' whatever the Mueller team might offer in return for their cooperation.
I don't think 'it' is a problem -- since the team will be able to say to any prospective cooperator: "You were not ever a Lt. General of The U.S. Army, nor a Director of The Defense Intelligence Agency ("We know Gen. Flynn"/"You're no Gen. Flynn") ... so there's no reason for any judge to be as offended by your criminality as Judge Sullivan was by Flynn's."
5
What is so dispiriting about our President is the power and influence he exerts even as the walls come tumbling down. The sooner we have a grown-up legislator in that office the better, but there needs to be a serious re-evaluation of the weight of the presidency in our republic based on checks and balances. Where is the control of this unfettered charlatan?
3
I hope the NYAG donates the remaining money in the trump foundation to those non-profit organizations providing help to refugees at the border.
8
Still waiting for one single surprising thing to come out of the Trump administration. Not holding my breath.
4
Now I can fully appreciate why it is so important for Mitch McConnell and the GOP to pack the courts with their special brand of Federalist Society judges. They already own the lock and the stock. The barrel will be the coup de grâce to our Founders' little experiment in a representative democratic republic.
5
Reading the comments, a question arises "Are there degrees of harm from "lies" told by elected officials? Should voters just dismiss repeated "lies" about the size of crowds, the size of tax cuts for segments of the population, the "factual" errors about who wrote a memo or who attended a meeting or the lies of omission made by a press secretary who fails to pass "normal" information along to the press? Are endless "corrections" to words "misspoke" just to be ignored?
What harm does Trump do when he repeatedly lies about events, policies or actions which can be objectively fact-checked? Other elected officials lie, misspeak, fail to recall, change their accounting of events as time goes on.
What different does it make when a president lies about "trivial" facts such as the definition of what having "sex" is or "protects" his third wife from the knowledge of his affairs? Is a presidential lie about "sex" in the same category as a lie about the number of nuclear weapons aimed at another country?
Trump's lies have challenged US voters because he routinely lies about inconsequential items and very serious matters in the same conversation. When Trump sees himself as the state, and sees loyalty to him from every federal employee as a matter of patriotism, there is no line between the personal business of the man and the official business of the office.
The Republican party has already impeached one president for lying about personal actions. Will Trump be next?
4
What a hero! The prospect of "up to 6 months in prison," Flynn folds like a cheap accordion. Greg Anderson, Barry Bonds' trainer quite willingly, and admirably, did that much prison time for not being a rat.
For clarity, I'm not advocating that Flynn fall on his sword. I'm just noting his toughness (ha!), what with all this glorification of his service, etc.
6
Thank you Judge Sullivan for speaking the truth about Michael Flynn trying to blame the FBI. Flynn has had an honorable military career but that does not put him above the law now. The Trump family criminal ring is being exposed bit by bit.
4
It is chilling and disturbing to think that had Trump not won the presidency he, his family and associates would likely be doing crooked business as usual with nobody bothering to investigate let alone put a stop to their endless self-interested scheming. He didn't expect to win the election. His greed and love for a con got him there, with some help from a portion of the American public, who may have some introspective reckoning coming. One can only hope. It has been a con job on the American people since before he stepped into the Oval Office. Did he really think he could get away with it? The answer is obviously yes, because he did until his path coincided with the presidency. Too bad we have had no real government for the last two years, only the battle to trace and uncover the schemes, lies, and mis-deeds of Trump and his allies.
7
Thank you, Judge Sullivan!
Your words and actions have served to help restore faith in the US justice system that many of us had begun to lose altogether.
So too, we hope, with your brook-no-nonsense, double-talk, or lies on the part of defendants like Flynn and his lawyers in your courtroom.
It's about time that somebody reminded them that the figure of Justice carries a sword to symbolize enforcement of the law. A little fear in the hearts of criminal malefactors and those who enable them will go a long way towards enforcing justice in this case, and also towards deterring criminality in general.
3
The trump regime is nothing but a criminal enterprise and as such should be declared illegitimate. Being illegitimate all appointments should be voided. All, including those to the Supreme Court.
6
I hope that Barbara Underwood decides to disburse whatever money is left in the Donald J. Trump Foundation to some non-profit immigrant rights group. They could use the help and they deserve it. President Trump deserves to help them.
5
The current administration looks like typical surrealist court intrigue and farce (no sublime tragedy here). I wish someone like the director Yorgos Lathimos would take the absurdity of the Trump regime to the screen (it may happen with the distance of some years after the passing of this court). Meanwhile see his "The Favourite" for a preview on how such a topic can be filmed. Update the period and tweak the sexual gender politics a bit, but the dynamics are there.
2
The judge was the voice of reason in the wilderness of Trump world's lies, conspiracy theories, and treason. He had to point out the glaringly obvious: Flynn sold out his country and dishonored its flag. His position as a former general and the national security adviser made his crimes much more heinous.
The word treason was raised in an American courtroom about one of this country's top officials, a man who knowingly lied, had multiple conversations with Russia's top spymaster, and who led BOTH the "Lock her up!" chants at the Republican National Convention AND a standing ovation in Moscow for the former director of the KGB and state head of one of America's worst enemies.
The judge is an outraged patriot. Flynn who pocketed $15 million from the Turkish autocrat Erdogan is not.
5
This judge schooled the republicans and their propaganda machine, Fox, how the rule of law is supposed to function. It is not by whining like a child or by partisan politics. No one is above the law regardless of what the justice department's policy is. The justice department is not tasked with making law they are for enforcing it only. Their opinion is moot.
3
Teapot Dome is starting to sound like small potatoes.
3
If only 45 had heeded the advice of Sally Yates things might have been different.
But why would 45 take anyone's advice? He only hires the best and brightest.
4
I keep thinking of what Abe Lincoln said about fooling the people...
The walls appear to be closing in on Donald Trump (pun intended).
Cannot happen fast enough. The sooner this man is no longer occupying the White House the better for the country.
5
In fable, a child pointed out that the Emperor was naked. Trump's nakedness has been on display for a long time, and we have become used to him bragging about the beauty of his robes while Republicans praise his unique fashion sense. At what point do people hear the child and realize that they have been accepting the unacceptable or willfully blind to reality for way too long?
3
@T. Schultz - Please don't use the words "Trump" and "naked" in the same sentence.
4
Great to see no one on the Left accepts responsibility at all for the rise of Trumpism. Of course, our perfectly fair, unbiased media obviously had nothing to do with the backlash that fomented and resulted in his election.
Let me prophecy. Until the Left and its mouthpiece, The Big Media, learn from their double-standards, their hypocrisy, their significant contributions to our current state of affairs, this phenomenon will continue to grow.
But... what disgusted the judge, what he resented most, what he called selling the country out was the Turkish connection while Flynn was the national security adviser to the president.
That wasn't even charged. Neither was the kidnapping of that guy in the Poconos or lying to Congress.
Flynn must have handed Mueller our golden goose.
2
If this is Making America Great Again, count me out.
3
The age of Trump is like a Hall of mirrors in a crazed funhouse. All the news all the time is about Trump. His every belch and tweet is chronicled no matter how insignificant and untruthful. He lives rent free in my mind, as others have said, but this Twilight Zone episode has to end.
5
After the 2016 election which Professor Alan Lichtman, who was one of three sources, predicted that Trump would win the Presidency the esteemed prognosticator followed up that look in his crystal ball with another shocking comment. Professor Lichtman predicted that "Donald Trump would be impeached because over the course of his lifetime he had played fast and loose with the law." Well, I think all of us like-minded peoplle outside of Trump's rbid Kool-aid drinking base agree that as the old adage goes, "the Chickens have come home to roost." The pathetic GOP leadership has abdicated their Constituational responsibily of oversight on the most corrupt adminsistration in the history of our country. Thank God that to judges like Emment Sullivan the rule of law "trumps" everything.
3
But the Trump Foundation did give $7.00 to the Boy Scouts. Shouldn't they get credit for this largess on their part?
6
Sometimes people forget that Federal Judges are not/should not be beholden to anyone at anytime. The Judges should also follow the law, not the politicians that nominated them,
Keep our Republic safe from politicians. Vote ,2020.
9
''It was a bracing reminder of the brazenness of his misdeeds and of the standards the public should be able to expect of those who serve them.''
The American Boy Scout mindset is appaling.
Serve themselves first, serve special interests second as long the public has a perception of being served.
1
"Emet" or Emmet means "true" or "truth" in Hebrew.
The name seems fitting for Judge Emmet Sullivan. The country is thankful for people of his kind of truth-seeking, truth-telling, and trustworthiness when it comes to protecting our Constitution and the American people. Well done, Sir. And well done Mr. Mueller and team. You give us hope, and courage.
18
This is all part of defining deviancy downward. Trump has antecedents and corrosive forebears leading us to this time. But partisanship and tribalism kept us all from acting on principle and the best interests of the country. So many are appalled by his past sexual relationships and the lies that go with them, but those so galled now let Clinton pass. No one cared about Clinton money never making it to Haiti, and there is no Press afflicting the comfortable at the Clinton Foundation over other issues that sure look like pay for play. So, the Trump foundation has an even worse record. No single snowflake thinks it is responsible for the avalanche. Trump is not the end of the decline, I am afraid. Since we do not act on principle, there is more to come. The future holds more division and even stronger anti-establishment reactions, especially since one half of the country is sure the other half is the degenerate half and deserves what it gets next.
2
The whataboutism is strong in this one.
4
Yeah, that’s a pack of lies and squid ink.
https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=16680
2
@TD - Charity Navigator gives the Clinton Foundation an A rating, showing that 91% of donations were used for actual charitable causes. The Clintons also released their tax returns, unlike Trump, and their tax returns show they didn't get a penny from the charity, also unlike Trump.
5
This legal stunt by Flynn, if it got through the courts, was concocted because Trump needs to try and legitimize talking points when he tests the political waters about a pardon for Flynn.
Trump will point to the judge and the federal court to say that Flynn was heroic in making a last stand to prove that he was tricked by the FBI into making statements or he would have forfeited his constitutional rights.
Trump will then criticize Judge Sullivan.
This stunt only sheds some light into a possible attempt to appease Trump by lawyers in both camps with Flynn's blessing to the plan.
Flynn was going to walk out of the courtroom without serving jail time and noting that a federal judge refused to rule or toss out his political talking points.
Flynn is now a victim, according to Trump, Fox and Trump's friends.
The problem was that the judge, with years of judicial experience, saw through this charade and nailed Flynn. The judge was upset because he believed his intelligence was being insulted by Flynn.
12
Well, thank goodness the GOP totally supports this kind of activity. and agree in no way this should be illegal. It is only the liberals that are against this kind of use of charity money.
1
Gratis, let me get this straight, you think stealing from a charity is just fine and blame liberals for being upset with wanting to follow the law.
Let me guess, when the collection plate is passed in church you put in a dollar but take out a twenty.
3
@gratis Sarcasm, right? It’s like a second language to me.
1
Trump has never known the Truth.
15
Flynn should be tried for Treason.
Flynn, as a retired general, cannot claim in any way, shape, or form to be ignorant of how the FBI conducts itself. He represents America and the armed forces; he worked with and alongside of FBI agents for decades.
He knew at each step of every misdeed that not only was he breaking the law, not only was he doing so for profit, but he did it by aiding a foreign power and who is not one of our allies, and therefore should be tried for treason.
10
Don't stop New York AG Office until you get the Trump tax returns. And I know you will...
22
Uh-oh. The worst has happened: Donald actually believes his lies.
Is it coincidence that Trump, the Russian social media campaign, Fox commentators and the Republicans in Congress all sound alike?
Perhaps it's merely a chorale group. But if it is more, as is increasingly evident, it's a serious betrayal of the public trust.
9
Possibly ONLY 6 months in jail!!?? For what amounts to the actions of a Spy? Who was a NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER!!?? There are people in this country incarcerated for 6 months while they wait for a trial!! Because they got caught in Jeff Sessions country with a couple of joints in their pocket! What a Mess we've become. Nothing, absolutely Nothing is making sense anymore.
32
For two years (even more) we've all known that the President and his band of cronies were less than representative of what a professional and selfless example of good governance should be. I feel relief that justice is finally being somewhat realized from the total disaster that is the Trump administration. However, I am still dismayed that there are SO many that still think this clown is a respectable leader of the country.
18
Trump needs a personal criminal attorney. He definitely should turn to Covington & Burling's whizbang, Robert Kelner, who made quite a reputation representing General Flynn before America's newest hero, Emmet Sullivan.
To Trump, Kelner would certainly qualify as one of "the best." We who proudly identify as "the best" fans of Trump can only pray that someone of Kelner's stature is the one standing between Trump and life behind bars.
3
Heh heh.
1
The people who voted for Trump are the ones who betrayed our country. They didn't do their homework, or their greed got in the way of their perspective. The only thing I can do is refuse to have anything to do with those people. Shunning them is my statement. When it's over, none of them will admit to having voted for Trump.
14
I cannot think of one single area in his life or business dealings where Trump has shown himself to be trustworthy.
Dump Trump, and Pence with him! Oh, wouldn't that make Pelosi the first woman president?
25
@Bobcb I've got your bumper sticker ready!
PELOSI 2019! USA!
3
"...violate campaign finance laws by paying hush money to two women who said they had affairs with him."
Isn't it the failure to report those payments, rather than the payments themselves, that constitutes the violation of campaign finance laws?
1
The Republicans in Congress might as well salute a flag with Trump's picture on it rather than the American flag. Hannity and the other media sycophants too. Fake patriots, every one of them.
21
@BKaus
I think of it as the cult of Trump. He has become their God and can do no wrong. When should we expect the Kool Aid?
1
If the NYT ever decides to implement a "Quote of the Week" they should start with this one. “I cannot recall an instance of a court ever accepting a guilty plea from someone who did not maintain he was guilty,” Judge Sullivan said, “and I do not intend to start today.” Beautiful!
23
Tuesday's events were more damning evidence of the most unfit administration in our nation's history. And yet half this nation believes there is nothing wrong with Trump's conduct. To the contrary, he is the best president this nation has ever had, to them. This, despite the mounting evidence of his criminal wrongdoing, his obvious unfitness for office, his mental instability.
We are two years into what may only be described as a national disaster. Hate crimes are up exponentially since Trump took office. He has trashed international alliances that took decades to develop. He has personally aligned with nations such as Russia and Saudi Arabia, that would do our nation harm at any opportunity. Our country is now a laughing stock at best, and an international pariah at worst. Our markets are now in free fall. And yet, to Trump voters, he is their savior.
Two years into this horrific chapter of our history, it is clear that their views will never change. And they are not a fringe group. They are nearly half of us.
Our nation must be partitioned. Those of us who value education, facts, science, progress, respect for the rule of law, tolerance, equality, and the reality-based world may live in one, and Trump voters may live in the other. There is no longer any other way for us to go forward.
8
"Trump" is just a five-letter word for "Fraud." Everything with Trump in the name is fraudulent. Trump's "charity" was a tax fraud, a campaign finance fraud and a means for passing and receiving bribes. The Trump Organization is an ongoing criminal entrprise, using the presidency to boost occupancy and rates at Trump resorts and hotels. Incredibly, the GSA, which leases the federally owned Old Post Office Building to Trump does not consider the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES to be a government employee who is banned under terms of the lease from leasing the property. How much slack can one criminal have? Now, finally, a federal judge has refused to accept a fraudulent plea agreement from one of Trump's Traitors. Trump's "good luck" tweet was just one part of another conspiracy to sandbag the judge, complete with "patriotic" Americans singing patriotic songs in honor of the Traitor Flynn upon his arrival in court. Clearly, another Russian disinformation effort in collusion with our criminal commander in chief. Trump's supporters always recite their bromide "the law is the law!" when the subject is immigration. When the subject is Trump, the saying is: "Anything goes!" If we really are "one nation under God," then God help us!
9
The Editorial Board neglects to mention that Judge Sullivan apologized for telling monstrous lies in court. He alleged Flynn "arguably" committed treason and said Flynn betrayed his country by acting as a foreign agent while serving as National Security Advisor. Sullivan appears to have gotten these lies directly from partisan blog sites, since none of them appear in evidence presented to the court. As the Wall Street Journal noted, “The outburst was too much even for the lawyers for Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who had to tell the judge that Mr. Flynn did not represent any foreign entity while at the White House.”
1
@William Case
It's not a "monstrous lie" if you correct YOURSELF after reviewing the facts. Normal people, you see, acknowledge when they've made a mistake and admit it... B-E-F-O-R-E the truth has to be dragged out of them kicking and screaming.
I would add that Sullivan's correction of his treason comment in no way changes his disgust with Flynn's repeated and intentional lies to the FBI and this nation. I would note that Flynn did not abandon HIS lies until he was repeatedly confronted with proof he could not hope to escape. In fact, by abandoning the unsupportable "treason" argument, Sullivan only further highlights that he only stands by those comments that have a basis in law and/or morality.
By contrast, the Trump WH continues to steadfastly maintain that the FBI "tricked" Flynn into saying things despite Flynn and his lawyers expressly stating that no such thing occurred.
5
Thanks. I’d been wondering how the wacko-birds were gonna try and weasel out from under this time around, and now I know. A combo of attacking the judge, misrepresenting what got said, and pretending that what General Flynn did was, as one recent TV flack said, pretty much the same as spitting on the sidewalk or tearing off a mattress tag.
5
@William Case you are exaggerating tremendously. The judge clarified what he said earlier, that's all. Flynn was negotiating to have people extradited to Turkey. Flynn himself lied about that - no need for a "partisan web site" there.
5
The level of fraud and deceit and total lack of moral integrity at the highest level of government renders me speechless.
11
I canù't prevent myself from thinking about the very ordinary criminal who can't help any investigation to avoid jail. Poor guy!
6
It's no joke -- these guys are dancing around with treason. Big question: will the GOP care? I won't hold my breath ...
10
Trump and his spineless GOP are circling the drain. Good riddance to both.
15
More Trump criminal behaviour. I am not surprised. Corruption lies in the core of all of Trump's and his family's activities. It is all that can be expected from them. To think otherwise is an illusion.
10
We need more judges like Emmet Sullivan, and fewer like Brett Cavanaugh!
17
“I cannot recall an instance of a court ever accepting a guilty plea from someone who did not maintain he was guilty,” Judge Sullivan said, “and I do not intend to start today.”
Judge Sullivan summed it up perfectly and it was a clear rebuke to the Faux News conspiracy mouthpieces. Judge Sullivan was right to rebuke the flagrant undermining tactics of the Flynn counsel. The Flynn lawyers were trying to stir the conspiracy pot and Judge Sullivan put the kabash to that in no time flat. Judge Sullivan’s words were pointed and hit the nail.
I was glad to see the the judge being so critical as the rebukes were right and just.
16
It seems evangelicals have conspired with an evil one. Well at least no one can be forced to make wedding cakes for gay couples. I’m sure that is worth it to them.
11
One only has to take a step back and identify the all of these presidential appointees that are facing prison time to identify the real perpetrator, the mob boss president itself.
8
Is anyone going to jail?
If not how do we expect this behavior to ever end when it's a small slap on the wrist if you get caught.
8
They wanted a businessman, they got one.
Monkey business all up in they house.
9
Flynn and Trumpian spin were, as AC/DC says, shot down in flames. That's what they get for their dirty deeds done dirt cheap.
7
"Witch hunt", or, which to hunt. The individuals that have been rounded up by our justice system is astounding and makes both Nixon's (Watergate) and Reagan's (Iran/Contra, arms for hostages) scandals pale in comparison when looking in the past at GOP presidencies.
One after one, the best people Trump could hire are falling on swords, disavowing Trump to save themselves or are still claiming innocence when the evidence suggests otherwise.
It is not just Flynn who has disgraced his uniform and sold out his country and he won't be the last to fall.
I thought years ago we learned our lesson in making sure we subject our candidates to the following advice: There ain't no such thing as a free lunch, and, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
5
Imagine a life, from cradle to grave, where your first and last thoughts each day are how to defraud your fellow man. Has there ever been a greater financial criminal than this so called 'President'?
22
This was well described in deed in following words.
The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.
Evil Men.
1
Donald Trump thinks that he is above the law because he has gotten away with a great deal as a real estate developer in New York. That is precisely why he has continued his nefarious activities which are finally beginning to be exposed while he is a sitting president. His personal history has shown him that he can get away with almost anything.
And one of the lessons that we should hope to learn is that no one person is greater than the country and no one individual is exempt from the rule of law .
Absolute power really does corrupt, absolutely .
The one thing we should be aware of is that we should not become apathetic to the wrongdoing and to the probable criminality which is part of Donald Trump and his world. Our reactions of outrage are natural, and then under the circumstances, highly appropriate.
21
For the good of all, Donald Trump should resign his office. And I don't want to see a pardon from Pence: Trump should serve time. But if Pence does let Trump off the hook, then state prosecutors should send him to the hoosegow and for a good long time, say, 15 years. He's earned it.
16
@Wiltontraveler - Pence is just as bad as Trump, he's just quieter about it.
2
@DR Oh, I don't like Pence the least little bit. But so far (at least), we've seen no proof that he's implicated in any of these shady dealings. I'd rather they both go—but not until Nancy Pelosi becomes Speaker of the House.
Watching how Trump negotiates facts and truth is one of the most frustrating exercises I have ever experience in a lifetime of observing politics. The narratives and counter narratives and explanations and reinterpretations of events and false equivalences and intentional redirects and distraction tweets lobbed are exhausting. Trump spins and spins and twists his words and everyone else's, contorting reality to the point that reality doesn't seem to exist if you don't want it to. The only thing that exists for him are "versions" of phenomena. The cliché about nailing Jell-O applies well. It forces Mueller to document every aspect of Trump's dealings with a fine tooth comb to prove-- once and for all-- that there is an objective world after all.
I can see why this investigation is taking so much time. At some point Mueller is going to upend DT as well as his supporters with proof of a coherent and inarguable bedrock reality, one that can't be shrugged away with a smoke screen of "fake news", deep state talk, and emails and what Obama once did.
14
Ralph Nader says this is a corporate crime wave we
are witnessing. Big money has corrupted politicians
on both sides. After Trump, the next step must be to
ban all corporate donations to political campaigns.
16
@DooDah: I don't care about Ralph Nader. If not for him, Al Gore would have convincingly won Florida and history would have taken a different turn.
5
@Anna
You're choice to carry the blame for this
mess in Ralph Nader. That's fine, my choice is Donald Trump.
The supporters of trump should substitute Clinton's name in where trump's name is in all these court cases.
Perhaps then, republicans could finally see the utter contempt this man has for democracy and the rule of law.
10
Unfortunately whenever a party takes a shot at your enemy the inclination to call that righteous is something most people lack the discipline to avoid. Sullivan did nothing righteous here. His tirade largely concerned allegations of misconduct, which not only were not proven, they were not at that time even being alleged by the prosecution. Judges are supposed to know that 'innocent until proven guilty' is a cornerstone of our legal system, and yet Sullivan throws that to the wind, and the NYT board and readership can't help but applaud. Let's be clear, the reason the prosecution permitted Flynn to plead to this lesser offence - lying about his communications with a Russian diplomat - is because most of the supposed "witches" found in the Trump orbit did things that don't involve Trump or Russian collusion. Flynn's lies concerned his efforts as part of an incoming administration to signal to a foreign country what the incoming administrations diplomatic policies would be. Some claim this would constitute a Logan Act breach, and one could read the text to come to that conclusion, assuming you fail to consider that these kinds of discussions probably occur with every incoming administration and that no one has EVER been convicted under this 200+ year old law.
The broader issue is that when the law becomes politicized, no moral authority is communicated by allegations or convictions of law violations; instead what is communicated is that an enemy saw fit to take a shot at you.
@Bill
What set the judge (and the country) off is the game Flynn tried to play where he tries to shift blame on to the FBI for some kind of entrapment (aka... "witch hunt").
This is why a grown man, former general, and intelligence expert had to stand their and be forced to answer the question ("yes" or "no") of whether he knew at the time he was deciding to lie to the FBI that was a crime to lie to the FBI. Obviously, the answer was an unqualified "YES." The anger that flowed from that point was: "Then WHY are you trying to play this court and the nation as fools by implying you were 'ambushed'?!"
This is a big part of the anger towards Trump. His lies are so obvious and so brazen that it leaves people with the impression that he really does think the world is stupid enough to buy into them. As if we EVER believed he had no knowledge of what his own lawyer was doing; that Cohen was just paying hundreds of thousands of dollars on Trump's behalf and Trump reimbursed him for no reason; that Trump had no idea what the "coffee boys" in his campaign were up to.
It's just one absurd lie after another with him, from crowd sizes to Russia.
4
@Matt
Judges are not supposed to be getting "set off." They are supposed to consider the law, consider the facts and apply the law to those facts, and otherwise they keep their opinions about matters before them where they belong (to themselves).
I agree that Flynn knew lying to the FBI was a crime and did not need to be so advised. He may well have believed this was more of an off the record kind of statement, but that's more his fault than anything.
The question raised seems to be whether his statement to the FBI was more of a "less than forthcoming" kind of statement (which may well be immoral but may not be illegal) or an affirmatively incorrect representation of a known fact (i.e., a lie, which is clearly a crime). Based on the record, the specific question Flynn may have lied about was whether he told the Russians not to escalate things in response to the Obama administrations actions against Russia, to which Flynn replied "Not really. I don't remember. It wasn't, 'don't do anything.'" It seems pretty likely Flynn was indeed essentially encouraging Kislyak not to escalate things because a new more favorable administration would soon be assuming power making his answer less than fully forthcoming; it's less clear that the statements were affirmatively false and therefore lies, which would be a crime. As a consequence, there's a pretty decent chance if he fought the government on this charge, he would have won.
I was relieved and comforted by Judge Sullivan's statements in court. He properly responded to the gravity of betrayal of America by one of its leaders and he understands the gravity of Flynn's treasonous activities. Thank you, Judge Sullivan, for accurately and judiciously evaluating the egregiousness of Flynn's crimes.
17
Excellent Editorial. Much needed.
After coming to Washington in 1966 to work on air pollution control as a conservative Republican I soon learned that my politics were wrong. I witnessed the integrity of high level officials in the U.S. Public Health Service dedicated to honesty and truth.
Then under Nixon I saw the program taken out of the PHS and become corrupted by corporate influence under EPA.
Now we are seeing the media, the voters, and some judges rejecting the corruption. Hopefully it continues. See
https://www.legalreader.com/elections-for-the-people/
9
Donald Trump lies from the White House every day single he’s at the White House - many times a day.
14
We are living the American Nightmare. There is scandal, and then there is criminality. Trump represents the latter. He maintains his status as president only because we are a nation of laws.He will be replaced in due time by the ballot box and/or the justice system.Let us be thankful for wisdom and genius of the framers of our constitution.If Trump had his way news organizations such as the Times and other entities would be closed down. I could possibly taken away in the middle of night for expressing my thoughts. Thank God we are a nation of laws.
11
@bernard oliver: Get real. The US Constitution was a cognitively dissonant creation of a liberty for states to enslave. It delivered up Trump on a silver platter. The dead have more authority than the living under the US conception of law.
@Steve Bolger
I agree to certain extent , it was set up for wealthy land owners. That being said it does offer some protections for those of us still enslaved by multinational corporations.
1
The judge’s adamant refusal to go along with allowing the guilty plea to stand while Flynn and the lawyers took advantage of the Trump spin is such a refreshing glimpse of truth and ethics taking on the blatant dishonesty that seems to blow in the wind anywhere around Trump. I’m betting Flynn fervently hopes Trump forgets about “helping” him for purposes of future activity in the case.
It is also comforting to know that there are at least some federal judges who believe that charges of treason remain on the table for Trump and those he chose to protect him and do his bidding.
11
All we can surmise is that the laws Mr. Trump has broken were bad laws and he was in the right to break them. It's now up to the legislature to repeal them and show the nation that Mr. Trump is not a villain but a national hero, like Billy the Kid, Al Capone, Richard Nixon, and Benedict Arnold.
7
45 thinks he's god.
3
"Don't tell me the law. Tell me who the judge is."
--Roy Cohn to Donald Trump
16
We celebrate a 14 day prison sentence (shortened by 2 days); a 3 year (36 months) sentence as evidence our Justice System "works" and now; the possibility of an all-but-treasonous military and intelligence veteran, serving 6 months in prison.
Simultaneously, Congress has passed a so-called "complete overhaul" of the Criminal Justice System which does absolutely nothing in mitigating the laws that convict and house several million bodies in State prisons.
We never do enough- yet celebrate as if we do.
7
Donald Trump is a moral, ethical and intellectual vacuum which destroys the morals, ethics and intellect of all who get sucked into it, even if they weren't crooks in the first place.
There's a reason we have the old saying: You can tell a person by the company he keeps. We will see more corruption, more venality, more treason in Trump's aides and appointees, as long as this black hole occupies our White House.
20
"By contrast, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, a charity that provided no charity," Would NYTimes say the same about Clinton Foundation. I am sure, no. Liberal media. Fake news
1
@Joseph: The Clinton Foundation is a bona fide charity. That’s why tge NYT does not say the same about it as about Trump’s and his kids’ illegal piggybank, the Trump Foundation. True news!
13
@Joseph Is your mind not capable of considering the possibility that the Clinton Foundation did provide charity? Yes, I know Hillary Clinton smells of sulphur and brimstone...
6
Maybe you should take a look at the charitable work the Clinton Foundation funded before you make such a misinformed statement. You won't find any portraits of themselves there. And their tax returns were made public.
13
Remember "Drain the swamp! Lock her up!"? In 2020, let's get the Big Alligator out of there, along with all his creepy swamp monsters. Lock them up and let's get back to American democracy.
10
Is the NYT willing to call Trump a liar yet?
Before slinging questions of truth and spin. Look at one's own gray pages.
5
Not much more satisfying than seeing the reptilian Ms. Pirro get her comeuppance.
15
And Crystal Mason got five years for voter "fraud."
11
Looking at Mr Trump, you only find illegality, fraud, deception, mileadings and lies. How is it possible to such a mobster to keep on leading such a nation as yours? Friends of the american people hope this nightmare for democracies will end soon. God bless America,
9
@jmg: Please don't feed the ludicrous conceit of the US that it is a divine creation.
Let’s just hope justice is equally applied ... The Times would be myopic if they didn’t realize half the nation feels egregious crimes where committed by the Clintons, Obama era Justice And Intelligence officials that far exceed Flynn’s lying .... lets hope it gets equally and fairly investigated and prosecuted where necessary
1
@Koko Reese
Only if you believe republican propaganda. List the crimes with facts to back up you disinformation spin.
17
A little off topic, but when all this is finally over, Donald Trump is going to look like Charles Laughton in "Hobson's Choice."
4
C'mon .. the Deep State is behind it all ... they forced Trump, kicking and screaming .. against his will .. to scorn the rule of law. MAGA!!!
@JH, that is funny, but there are some commenters here who write that exact same thing....but in all seriousness.
3
What is MAGA, apparently not the same meaning when Reagan used.
Copies never reach their originals level.
The best thing about Sullivan’s estimable performance was his actually broaching the “T” word, right out in front of God and everybody. Benedict Arnold was a “hero,” too, before he also “sold out his country.” Who can doubt that Mueller is finally going to cram the treason of the whole Trump crime family, and its accomplices, right down the throats of the doltish hosts of Fox & Friends, as well as their hapless lemming viewers. They’ll all be stripped naked at the bar of history, just as the utterly disgraced Mike Flynn, the jerk Obama explicitly warned Trump to stay away from, was by Sullivan yesterday. Flynn’s stands with Arnold for the ages now.
9
Said differently...
“You’re MY parrot now”
I compared this editorial to the WSJ's. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-flynn-fiasco-11545182606. I like this one better.
@Rambo
Of course you prefer the biased characterization in this publication over the biased characterization in the other publication. It has nothing to do with right and wrong however.
Lock them up.
And throw away the key.
5
@mkc Before locking them up, total asset forfeiture from all their holdings, shell companies and other rackets. All of the family, except Barron.
5
@MK Amen.
And, "Are you listening" Jeanine Pirro and Fox News after you praised Judge Sullivan?
7
What about Michael Flynn Jr? Did he get a free pass?
4
@Mark Paskal,
Yes, he did.
The little twerp is hiding behind daddy's now forever tarnished military career.
3
Will we see an editorial praising Trump for banning bump stocks? I'm guessing that since Trump did this, the NYT editors will ignore it.
Sure. On the same day Fox&Friends does an honest, knowledgeable story on Obamacare.
7
Hello Webster dictionary- Malfeasance, lying,cheating, distortion should have a combined new expression in the English language- “Trumpdid“
1
Jonathan Pollard got a life sentence for giving Big Bird to Israel, our allies. He was eventually released, but...
General Flynn attempted, for money, to give Fethullah Gülen, a decent man living in exile in the United States, to the present not-at-all friendly government of Turkey. He would have faced harsh punishment for opposition to the present barely-democratic government. No doubt President Trump would like to do the same to the actors of Saturday Night Live, but...
Why should Flynn's sentence be less than Pollard's?
6
We must not forget this: to most Trumpist lawless is good, when it comes to laws they don’t like. They have zero respect for any such laws. And love to flip anarchist fingers at the law. Only when there are laws that work in their favor they crave a fascist enforcement of them - i.e. on the border.
2
It is beyond my comprehension that this despicable bevy of "gypsies, tramps, and thieves" have been allowed to run amok for so long as they have without being put upon by a virtuous court system. Where were all the reputable officers of the courts in the last thirty or so years as this generation of deplorables were growing to maturity?
I'm holding my breath until they are all behind bars. And perhaps then the most valiant among our leadership can challenge the duped and clueless voters who worked to put this particular bit of failed human detritus in the White House. What goes round....
3
Drain the swamp?
Donald Trump and his complicit, greedy family and his hired, cowardly, slimey fixers ARE the swamp.
9
"Trumpian spin?" You mean LIES?????
11
Are we at "high crimes and misdemeanors" yet?
#Askingforafriend
11
The most self destructive conspiracy theory the trump nitwits tell themselves is that the Federal Government, Federal Law Enforcement especially, is filled with incompetents.
Thank goodness for The FBI, The CIA and the special prosecutor and a special thanks to stupid, gullible rightist children.
2
And meanwhile conservative media drones on blunting the truth, delaying justice for Trump cronies and betraying the public interest. It can happen here! And is happening. The "NAZIS" are back.
3
Mr. Mueller and his team have earned my gratitude, respect and admiration for the work they are doing to end the national nightmare of the Trump presidency. Thank you and keep up the good work.
16
Republicans are so used to fooling their "base" with propaganda and lies they forget that no court is playing that game. They do not care what the morons on fox and fiends said, or what "Judge" Jeanie proclaims. The courts look at evidence.
What the court saw in that evidence of the Republican's first choice for NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR was treason.
6
Lately trump will mention” if you don’t do this my people will revolt!!”
His people?????!!!!
Yes.... his cult will take to the streets with the neo nazi crowd.
And we must be cognizant of Fox News Hannity and pirro stoking the “ trump revolt”
Pay more attention to his multiple “dog whistles”
This guy is amok.
11
Every presidency has a reputation to live with.
Nixon: Notorious -sinister - calculated- visionary(china- gold standard abolish, EPA etc.
Carter : Visionary ( energy), weak- Measly- honest- humble
Reagan: effective- bravado- ignorant ( AIDS)- more than visionary (Cold war and Nuclear arms deals)
Bush Father: Calm- steady- statesman art- first true war glory after WWII (Gulf war) -international
Clinton: economic success- visionary ( internet)- Weak international- scandalous and moral corruption.
Bush son: too much Bravado-arrogance- incompetence- unifying (unsuccessful)- Worst war management.
Obama: Steady- calm- economical recovery from recession- International successes and botched actions- The most effective military pinpoint action in history of USA ( OBL capture) .
Trump: Moral corruption and collapse- ineptitude- nepotism- disorganized- arrogance- lawless- unethical- propaganda- unrepentant liar.
20
I like this a lot. I would also add to Trump “anti-democratic”.
2
Also misogynist, malignant narcissist, sociopathic liar and delusional wannabe fuehrer.
2
This is what happens when Trump World takes legal advice from Jeanine Pirro and Sean Hannity.
15
"All of them" should be securely ensconced behind Artistically-Designed Steel Slats.
9
What does it mean when a sitting president, himself about to be indicted on corruption and illegal activities...
...tweets to a former staffer who admits to treasonous acts
...wishing him "good luck"?
Does this "president" know what treason is?
Impeachment is a given, but it is not enough.
We need to indict him and his criminal children, his criminal staff, a lying enabling Pence who may be implicated only a tiny bit (because we will get to know only a tiny bit)...
We need to put them in prison for many years - not months.
tRump must be harshly punished for creating and also hiding crimes of his crime syndicate - that has sullied our White House, the office, and our nation!
11
Now we know what the Trumper means by "my generals."
The Russians also know.
12
The judge should reprimand the Washington Post. That headline is awful!!! Please stop calling Trump’s blatant lies Trump “spin.” A lie is not a spin. Trump lies aimed @ FBI harm us all, lies fueled by power of our Presidency.
4
To many Americans (over 60 million), this investigation into Trump collusion, which has now morphed into an investigation about something else, comes across as manufactured and disingenuous. We have a former Secretary of State that among other things deleted 30 K emails after being subpoenaed; a former head of the FBI that among other things leaked classified information; and a former AG that among other things made decisions to help her political friends. There's a 600 lb pink gorilla sitting in the corner at the US Department of Justice and everyone ignores it. This is infuriating Trump's base. As each day passes and this investigation continues, Democrats are ensuring another Trump victory in 2020.
1
@Mark
". . .this investigation into Trump collusion, which has now morphed into an investigation about something else . . ."
Um, that's what happens during investigations.
I suppose that the reason that "many Americans" see this investigation as "manufactured and disingenuous" is because they aren't paying attention and/or they don't care that their godhead is a loathsome crook and, in fact, are perfectly okay with it. The "600 lb pink gorilla" is sitting in the Oval Office. Sorry.
2
For many of us, Michael Flynn's worst offense was when he led delegates to the Republican National Committee in attacking Hillary Clinton with chants of "Lock Her Up." How a four-star general could transform himself into a brazen political hack, calling for the jailing of a political opponent with no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, shows how unpatriotic he had become. How ironic that a federal judge is now threatening to "Lock Him Up" for his admitted crimes.
16
The clearest sign that Flynn is spilling the beans on Trump will emerge when Trump starts attacking him. Until now, Trump has wished him good luck and attacked law enforcement, indicating that Flynn is protecting Trump and may be a candidate for a pardon.
3
It was very refreshing to hear the Judge yesterday cut through all the political spin and hold Flynn to the simple standard of telling the truth. Who could believe that the political effort waged by the Trump witch-hunt gang could be silenced so quickily and so convincingly by a judge merely demanding the truth?
There was evenhandedness. The prosecution team did not escape unscathed. Basically, the Judge found the right course and showed why the Judiciary is, and should be, a part of the balance of powers that’s equal to the other two.
What I’ve wondered about in the last week is why Flynn’s team decided it was a good idea to publically push the defense that Flynn was taken advantage of by the FBI. It was a losing idea, as the Judge demonstrated, but trotting it out just before sentencing was just a really stupid idea. I’m not sure what they expected, but it’s no surprise what they got.
15
With each revelation of Trumpian corruption my first thought is, how would the ring wingers react if President Obama had been involved in even one of these transgressions? There would have been no end of "lock him up" and talks of impeachment. Yet, radio silence from the GOP and defense from the alt right for Trump. Corruption is the new normal and the only argument is degrees of seriousness. The goalposts for "high crimes" keep getting moved.
16
I'm wondering why the state of New York hasn't brought down the Trump organization before now? Apparently that family business has been corrupt for a long time.
13
Finally Trump is found guilty of something. As are the Trump adult kids. Now for the rest of the story.
It is also comforting to know that Judge Sullivan was not persuaded by the Defense attorneys memo. What were they thinking. And shame on Michael Flynn for allowing them to submit that memo in the first place.
I do not think for one minute that Flynn has remorse of any kind. He is no patriot and he should be stripped of any pension he has been receiving from the Federal Government. He was quite willing to use the Government to do his dirty deeds, so he should not be entitled to any money despite his service. Flynn has brought dishonor to the Military as well as to his family.
10
The head of the GOP may never change his ways, but all of his handlers, consigliere, sympathizers, yes men, and fellow con artists should see what's happening and realize THEY may be held accountable, even if 45 won't be. This is probably the main reason folks are leaving the administration and new enablers are harder and harder to find.
3
No one is above the law? The Trumps have made large sums of money by breaking and skirting the law as their M.O.
They will never be brought to justice. They have the financial wherewithal to keep the law at bay and to "work out" a deal that will allow them to continue to gorge and scam.
Our justice system recognizes meritocracy at it's core. Only the poor go to prison or pay their debts.
4
Particularly disturbing was the effort by Trump, the White House, Fox News etc. to construct a narrative that Flynn was a victim of improper dealing by the FBI. Of all the wrongs in which Trump has engaged since his inauguration, it is his continual attacks upon the institutions of our government that hurt us most. The country can survive Trump, but it cannot survive a loss of respect for our institutions. Trump is a traitor to every value for which we have stood since 1776. Someone should take that flag pin from his lapel. He well exemplifies Samuel Johnson's statement that "patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."
18
Bullies. They get away with it—until they don’t.
Bullies can always find assistants. By the time Trump finally falls, those in his pack that get trampled in the dust will number in the hundreds, I predict. Flynn will do time. As a veteran, one trained as an officer to know what it means, and to believe in serving country, I hope the sentence is more than six months.
Advice to Republicans: Run away...now!
5
This is what I am so grateful for this holiday season: The New York Times, The Washington Post, the PBS and NPR news because none of these organizations have allowed themselves to be intimidated by the horrors of the Monster in the Oval Office and his minions such as this Flynn character among the hordes of them. We should all be thankful that at least some of the press are digging into all they can about the Trumps, most of whom she be in prison and the keys tossed away.
12
Trump is completely unable to admit to his lies, which after all, have been part of his makeup and personality for decades. He may not even be able to distinguish between truth and lies anymore. His life has been lived on the defensive, constantly fighting against a never-ending onslaught of accusations. Early on, as most children do, he used lies as a defensive tactic. But, unlike most of us who learn to accept when we're wrong and admit our faults, Trump never did. It's more than arrogance and bluster; it is a flaw that has become part and parcel of his character. His fear of exposure is so great, and has been for so long, that lying is now a compulsion for him. He is a victim of his obsessive need to resist and defend, and will go to any lengths to keep up the self-made myth of his greatness and superiority (which he sincerely believes). His undoing will be the presidency. He can no longer control everyone and everything. Had he stayed a private citizen, he could have continued protecting the myth, but it's all slipping away now. He should rue the day he took office. It was the beginning of his end.
10
Flynn, Cohen, Manafort, et al. and the yet to be announced Trump aficionados who all thought they were above the law, this is a great day for our undying support and belief in the law. And aside from the obvious grand player (i.e., POTUS) I would love to see the likes of the duplicitous, arrogant, two-faced GOP stalwarts (i.e., McConnell, Ryan, Graham, etc.) have their day in court for aiding and abetting the misdeeds and criminal antics of this administration.
1
At times it appears that anyone who allows themselves to associate with Trump becomes, well, crooked and purveyors of "alternate facts", or basically, a liar.
Trump, through his "leadership", has possibly made truth-stretching, or lying, an accepted practice within his administration.
Perhaps the need to lie is to keep Trump appeased, or, if one lies then Trump will "have their backs".
I cringe when I read press releases from the White House realizing that we cannot believe much that comes from that propaganda mill.
So, when it came to Flynn, Pruitt, Zinke, Cohen, what possessed them to become bad actors? Were they that star struck by the charlatan they lost their own sense of morals and ethics, provided those two values existed?
Trump is a charlatan, a grifter and his past practices in his business "dealings", the sham university and charitable foundation, the failed casinos that were used to bilk investors and a state government, is a serial liar given that may be the only way to secure more money for more grifting.
Trump has lied to his supporters in fulfilling campaign promises, yet, they ignore the fact they have been "played".
They too, the supporters, have fallen under the spell of a gifted con artist, just as those supporters that have been convicted or accepted pleas.
1
Makes one wonder, what took so long for the law to catch up with him. New York City and the state had limited resources? i.e. 'he was took big to jail'.
4
I wish Roald Dahl were still with us to write stories about these times and characters. I'm sure that our friends in the UK would not begrudge the loan.
2
Let us not forget that Trump used the foundation to bribe FL AG Pam Bondi. They tried to obscure the transaction by listing a similar-sounding nonprofit (consciousness of guilt) because foundations cannot use their tax-deducted funds to finance a political campaign.
For her part Bondi cooperated by dropping her investigation of Trump U.
BOTH should be headed to the hoosegow!
8
Is Trump and his organization angling for a job working for Ben Salmon, Saudi prince, after his stint ruining our country? Lots of money there and with his power to murder on fifth Avenue right up his alley. That is if he can avoid the law before getting out of the country.
Perhaps for Trump cronies it would be a badge of honor to serve time for their boss. Will the words of a judge make any difference to them? Is there a trace of honor left to a once three star general Flynn after his detour into stupidity and corruption? For that matter is there a trace of honor left to the GOP for selling itself to the gangster Trump?
Using a charitable foundation to pay $7 for his child's expenses (Boy Scouts) is an insight into the President's lack of integrity that we can all relate to.
7
I don't think Judge Sullivan was speaking to Flynn as much as he was speaking, and warning, to Trump. The word 'treason' particularly rang a bell that our genius in the WH should heed, or face more dire consequences.
3
It's clear now that a drop of decency and truth telling by the Judge has done so much to clear up the muddied waters. Thank you, Judge Sullivan!
4
As the very long list of crimes committed by Trump and his associates continues to grow, we are still waiting for Republicans in Congress to start doing their jobs and taking action to clean up the crime scene that engulfs our White House. But all we hear in response is . . . . crickets.
2
Reading about the facebook investigation and now this I am actually grateful that Donald Trump is president - he is such a bumbling fool of a grifter that it makes it more obvious the state of the union - dead, busted, over. I am not into conspiracy theorizing but have to wonder at the repub monster traitors who started to dumb down the populace in serious about 1980 - is this really what they were after - a population hooked on opiates in the midwest, illiterate and crazy Elmer Gantryish religion happy, job free and stupid enough to elect a lifelong conman as president - how can it be worth it to them -- this every man for himself ridiculous society. Its been a quick crash really after a brief non-inclusive eco high in the 1950-60´s.
I expatted in 2004, my dad one of the so-misnamed "greatest generation" - he laughed cynically at that TV term, left the US in 1998, my brother in 2006 - yes we are the brain drain. We are US citizens but refuse to live in the swamp and feel somewhat helpless to correct it with all the election cheating and banana republic behaviours.
2
Can someone please explain how the Attorney General of New York can make these charges against the Foundation, but file no charges against the individuals who ran that foundation?
5
As it turns out, the worst thing that could have happened to Trump was being elected President. His entire criminal enterprise is unfolding before our eyes.
6
No surprises here. Trump’s entire life has been a series of frauds and he is indeed a “horrible human being”. But it is more than a little annoying that the brazen fiction of the Trump Foundation was not long ago exposed and terminated. How is it that a $100 error on Joe Shmo’s tax return can get caught but the in your face scam of this phony charity went unchallenged for so long.
4
"Bracing reminder of the brazenness of his misdeeds?" For lying about doing something that was legal to do in the first place. For not being told he could have a lawyer present? For being tricked into thinking it was a casual conversation? The brazen people are Comey for bragging on MSNBC that he broke protocol to take advantage of this white house that might not know any better, and the Judge for accusing Flynn of something he didn't do. And also this rogue judge who doesn't have a clue what's going on. What has happened to Flynn is a tragedy, and the fact that your "paper" is accusing everyone connected to Trump of a crime is pathetic. I have no respect for anyone on the left as long as they continue to pursue these witch hunts. The American people are outraged by your behavior.
Heads up White House staff and GOP...the Trumpian Spin has significant legal and personal consequences. And to save yourself additional embarrassment, may I suggest you stop using the phrase, "the President is a successful businessman...," as the lead into future statements/comments. The facts, real facts and not alternative facts, clearly demonstrate he is not a successful businessman.
4
What is astonishing is that after many convictions of the Trump campaign staff, his National Security advisor lying to the FBI and others, being forced to settle the case for the Trump University, having the Trump foundation being shut down, exposed for paying hush money to two women, a sizeable segment of the population still talk about all this as "a witch hunt!" And, that includes the notorious Fox News.
How many presidents of this country or any other who has been this corrupt and still remain in his position?
4
Dear NYT Editorial Board, I would like you to consider researching how people who donated to the Trump Foundation feel today, most of all the ones that made their donations before Trump started running for the GOP candidacy, back when he was a Democrat. What do they have to say? What about the Democrats whose money went to help elect a GOP candidate? Can they ask for refunds?
My educated guess is that these persons feel fooled, like giving money to higher causes translated into buying jewelry for Ivanka or paying hush money for DT's one night stands.
2
I still think a part of trump's sentencing should be the lure of greatly reduced jail time if he goes on National TV and tells his deplorable uneducated base of children that Fox News is the political arm of the koch brothers and are a Clear and Present Danger to America.
And if he strays into trump fantasy land even a little, all bets are off and the full weight of the sentence will be carried out.
We have to counter the true enemies of America the kochs, the murdochs and the stupid.
4
Thank goodness for Judge Sullivan. At least someone in the judicial branch believes that no one is above the law, and that by Flynn trying to assuage his guilt by blaming the FBI, that he just might earn himself a quick trip to prison. If you or I (or anyone else we know) did what Flynn has done, we would not only be in prison, but on trial for espionage and possibly, treason. Why he still gets to walk around free is beyond me. The fact that he was a 3-star general just further shows how someone like that should be held to a higher standard, but instead has enjoyed privileges that few of us ever would.
5
Where was regulatory oversight of the Trump Foundation in the first place? Did the man have to become president before all of this came to light? How many other Foundation Boards are equally corrupt and getting away with it?
3
Shocked I say, absolutely Shocked. Not.
Though now overt, these elite business/financial bromances of corruption slide along without our knowledge, this gang is exposed because they are incompetent. But what do you think Cheney was doing with Halliburton, Cohen with Goldman Sachs and on and on.
Trump is a result of there being people ‘above the law.’
We all know this to be true. Koch, Adelstein, Gates, Bezos etc. The rest is smokescreen.
Would be nice if the NYT would explore this miasma of lies for the benefit of the few.
If Michael T. Flynn's substantial information to the Mueller investigation doesn't guarantee a conviction and lengthy prison sentence for the Trump Crime-Family-Syndicate, then he needs to spend a significant time in Federal prison.
While understanding the Muller game of using mice as bait to catch the rats; there is far too much leniency to the rats. Anyone else accused and convicted of the crimes thus far; would be rotting behind bars.
Quite simply: This is a bad "look" for the Mueller team. Flynn and his ilk are nothing more than low-class criminals with high-class Defense attorneys.
1
Just curious. Why wasn't General Flynn charged with the other counts of lying to the FBI? Apparently there were several and he was only charged with one. Also, why wasn't he charged with being an unregistered agent of a foreign country? Can he be charged with these at a later date?
3
Trump and Pence need to be run out of town on a rail, and the rightful President, Hillary Clinton, should be sworn in today.
3
He's not a "lightweight" judge. He's a District Judge first appointed by Reagan. This isn't a "Democratic thing."
Sorry to burst your bubble of willful denial.
3
Our Country has been sold by one and everyone in the echelons, bad actors, especially by the 1%, every american apple-pie Corporations and those who wield power even by the peon. And the greatest one of them all is the President himself. But the greatest irony is that these crimes which tantamount to treason ( the pinnacle of crimes! ) are getting away.
Probation, few months in 5 star prisons is punishment or reward? An ordinary citizen can be shot down for stealing cigarettes or not paying spousal support or languish in jail for 3 yrs. waiting for their day in court. But for those selling our Country they are rewarded, yes rewarded for telling the truth about their lies. So much for our esteemed Justice System. It stinks!
Wow! The real story here for me is this judge. Mr Flynn is unlucky to have found himself before a jurist who believes as I that his acts may be over the line of treason. In the event Mr Flynn receives some jail time, my personal faith in our fatally flawed justice system will be partially restored.
1
Every time these amoral, unethical swamp creatures circling Trump and their mouthpieces say, "I didn't know it was a crime to lie to the FBI," I just want to throw something at them. Weren't they ever taught by their parents that lying is wrong? About anything no matter to whom you're conversing.
And for all the acts that Flynn was not charged with, I hope he gets the full six months in prison, which is still too light a sentence in my book. High time, a judge with some backbone sends a signal to the nation's politicians, corporatists, money men that their actions will have consequences. Kudos, Judge Sullivan. Fines just don't cut it. If the legislative branch refuses to act to keep the executive branch in check, then the judicial branch must act ("activist judiciary" be damned).
2
"Trumpian Spin"? Spin implies some loose connection to the truth. What Trump & Co does is called lying.
2
When does the Editorial Board start saying boldly, in bold print, 36 point: "Donald J. Trump is a liar;" "Donald J. Trump is lying." "Donald J. Trump is lying again."? Stop referring to him as Mr. President, President Trump; stop the politeness that offers a shred of respect. He has no respect for anything and anyone. Why offer the respect that the office previously commanded when he continuously, reflexively, perpetually lies?
3
I just took a look at foxnews.com to see their spin on Flynn and the trump foundation. Nothing. Not a peep. Crickets. That says it all.
3
None of this will deter Trump supporters. He still amazingly has a 38% approval rating from "the base"--basically the same rating he started with one Day 1, when the first of the infinite streak of lies, distortions, manipulations, boasts, stupid moves and appointments, and grifting--interspersed between an endless Twitter storm. They love their tax cut, their right-wing SCOTUSs, and their overturning of many Obama executive orders. What WILL deter them? Certainly not anything Mueller finds. Only personal economic calamity can bring them down.
2
‘Explaining her decision after the verdict, [Paula Duncan] told Fox News, “No one’s above the law.”’
I disagree, Paula. Anyone with enough money and power or anyone with the backing of money and power (the president) is above the law. This is evident throughout history and throughout the world. Think kings, queens, czars, dictators, emperors, senators, MPs, presidents, etc. They’re only deposed when the tide has turned or they become out of fashion. Or consider comparing the verdicts and sentences rendered to the rich versus the poor. If “the law” were a horizontal line on a graph, it would be crossed by a sloped line ascending from abject poverty to extreme wealth and influence. The intersection is somewhere around the top one percent.
NYT -- "Listening, Mr. President?"
DT -- "No."
1
A bit of common sense and decency intruded on Trump today; what more need be said. Two years minus the same do indeed make it very recognizable when it does happen.
Thank you Judge Sullivan for not accepting the Trump path of deceptive disingenuous acumen. It is very good to know that despite right wing efforts to the contrary good common sense principles and the rule of law still exist within the justice system. That principled un-compromised Americans still have a place of importance in this nation.
6
Dream on Ms. Duncan. The rich and powerful institutions that control the strings of government policy are almost always protected from justice and denied their day in court to be heard. One need only look at the 2008 financial collapse to see how justice is rigged in this country.
3
The weight of it sometimes seems too much to bear for this patriot but the head of one of our nation's most notorious white-collar crime families has, with the assistance of foreign governments, become President of the United States.
Let that sink in as the year 2018 comes to an end.
11
(To the melody from Sam Cooke's, "Twistin' The Night Away")
Let me tell you 'bout the Trumps, somewhere up in New York way
They all thought that crime would pay, griftin' the night away
They said they ran a charity, used the money as they pleased
But gave it up when they got squeezed, griftin' the night away
2
No matter what happens to Trump, the GOP still has "Plan B" in Mike Pence; another weasel.
3
What would be most "fitting" is that the whole Trump entourage be fitted with orange jump suits.
Then mop floors and peel potatoes for about 10 years or more.
4
Fox Nation Alert: Courts that do not obey Trump are not legal. Right viewers? (pun intended)
2
Seems like with Trump and Co., we have an organized criminal enterprise in the Oval Office complete with attendant caporegimes, soldiers and a rotating band of consiglieres. My how far we have fallen...
5
I hope there's a television in Paul Manafort's cell.
Spin is a euphemism for lies.
4
Congress, for some strange reason, refuses to do its job of checking and balancing, restraint, the power of the presidency so the courts have consistently been the only check on the assumed power of this orange madman.
1
At some point, and it will be soon, we as a people are going to have to make a decision: we either live in a country of laws, where NO ONE is above the law, and we act accordingly, or we buckle and let the current criminal, Donald Trump in the White House get away with his nonsense. This garbage cannot continue. I'm sick of his stupid tweet storms, his insane lies, his moronic wife, and his criminal children, Sarah Sanders' blatant lies and despicable attitude, the complicit, immoral Republican Senators and Representatives, Fox News lies and propaganda, etc...This all needs to stop: it's not normal, it's toxic and lethal to our democracy.
10
@Marc Castle Thank you! Me too - was nice to see a bit of normalcy return yesterday.
1
Remember the Colonel Nathan Jessup "You Can't Handle The Truth" charecter from A Few Good Men?
Michael Flynn wishes he were that honorable.
2
Trump abruptly changed his tune about Flynn after today's court appearance, claiming "they" must have scared Flynn as he is now making up stories about him. LOL. How many times have we heard DJT speak this line/lie? May I suggest ad nauseam?
1
Judge Sullivan also pointed out to Flynn that it appeared that Flynn had “sold out your country”. What a damning statement. The Washington Post reported that Flynn appeared stunned at the judge’s remarks.
3
Gen. Flynn should be tried in US Military court for treason. Given what we know about his actions, I expect he would be spending his retirement years at Fort Leavenworth.
2
Oh What a tangled web we weave when we first practice to deceive.... Vote them OUT ASAP or LOCK them all UP. Start at the top, then FOX noise, and Sarah oh what should be done with the Religious wrong.... Guess a higher court will deal with her....
Just saying...
MJ
3
As others have said before: "Donald J. Drumph don't care."
1
Judge Sullivan..what a pleasure to meet you and guess what??Flynn was still working as NDS after the election...that's when he was playing footsie with Turkey and talking about possibly kidnapping Gulan.You were right..treason is in play.
2
@susan mccall
Folks, there is no treason as we would really like to believe, but we are not in a declared war with either Russia or Turkey, so there can be no treason as defined in our constitution. Look it up!
Iago:
Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed.
Othello Act 3, scene 3
Donald Trump has stolen the good name of the American people
3
A malignant narcissist will never get better and suddenly become a human being.
3
@Mark Schaffer Not according to Dr. Allen Francis (NYT Opinion, "An Eminent Psychiatrist Demurs on Trump’s Mental State," Feb 14, 2017), famed psychiatrist who refused to acknowledge that Dump is a malignant narcissist.
Remember this classic misdiagnosis as Dump destroys the USA and the world:
"He may be a world-class narcissist, but this doesn’t make him mentally ill, because he does not suffer from the distress and impairment required to diagnose mental disorder.
Mr. Trump causes severe distress rather than experiencing it and has been richly rewarded, rather than punished, for his grandiosity, self-absorption and lack of empathy. It is a stigmatizing insult to the mentally ill (who are mostly well behaved and well meaning) to be lumped with Mr. Trump (who is neither).
Bad behavior is rarely a sign of mental illness, and the mentally ill behave badly only rarely."
@JCX He is wrong.
Chuck Rosenberg made a point about how judges should not step into the spotlight like Judge Sullivan did at the General Flynn sentencing hearing. However, extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. It's interesting to see a difference of opinion about the severity of the crimes committed between the judge and the prosecutors on such open display. Have we truly listened to what the judge said?One has to wonder what the defense was attempting to accomplish when they questioned the FBI interview. Was it a message to Trump or a simple legal error? What will General Flynn need to do to convince the judge he should not go to jail? Maybe he should focus more on showing complete remorse than on the value of additional cooperation beyond what the government has already said what was needed? Would the value of causing Trump to be forced from office be enough for the judge? General Flynn said that if he had done one tenth of what Secretary Clinton had done that he would have gone to jail. Apparently, he's done 10 times as much and the hypocrisy of "lock her up" has been revealed. It's marvelous to watch history unfold in front of our eyes and wonder how it will all look in hindsight.
4
My thanks to Mr. Mueller and his team. It seems, daily, that the essence of US governance is evolving, in a not generally positive way. Mueller's investigation reinforces the old fashioned US idea that no one is above the law, a most significant component of the essence of US governance.
2
Kudos to Judge Sullivan for pointing out to former Gen'l Flynn what the flag of the United States looks like when it is in action in a judicial setting against enemies foreign and domestic. Flynn may remember that flag better than any he saluted in his uniformed days.
2
"Explaining her decision after the verdict, she told Fox News, 'No one’s above the law.' "
"Oh! Now that's an interesting idea," responded Fox News.
4
The lines of poet John Milton rang in my mind as I read your piece:
"Oh how comely it is and how reviving
To the spirits of just men long oppressed
When God into the hand of their deliverer
Puts invincible might."
Okay. I know these judges and attorneys general do NOT have invincible might. You pitched on the right word yourselves, New York Times:
FORMIDABLE.
So thank you.
May I add?--and this, I suppose, one might use as a club and bash me over the head. But here goes:
It is helpful to know what the news IS.
It is helpful (within proper limits) to know what the news MEANS.
Especially to legal neophytes like myself.
Over the last year or so, we've all been inundated with legal stuff. Rulings--pleas--investigations. Most of it we all understand pretty well.
JAIL, for instance. The big house. That we ALL understand.
And yet. . . .and yet. . . . .
. . .it helps to stand back from the trees (so to speak) and take in the forest. Absorb the big picture--the pattern--that ever evolving arc of events.
And gosh, New York Times! Your editorial was just plain ENCOURAGING. The news (over these past two years) has been so BAD. To watch the mastiffs and bulldogs of the law sink their teeth into some flagrant malefactor--
--no no! I don't mean to be mean-spirited or spiteful. BUT--
--"how comely it is and how reviving!"
Did I mention "forests"? I think, for Mr. Trump--
--the woods are on fire right now.
Good!
Let 'em burn.
5
Judge Sullivan and AG Underwood meticulously undercut the supports for the Trump family and its sycophantic supporters.
Soon, at least in its overweening exuberance if not its physical size, Trump Tower NY will pancake into a midtown parking lot.
Trump Math has already added floors to his building--the 58 story building is listed by the Trump Organization as having its top floor as the 68th.
The entire Trump Organization and family needs to be brought down a peg closer to the world in which we "little people" live.
7
We are still a nation of laws because of nonpartisan judges, but for how much longer?
To think there are so many partisan, stooge-judges appointed by this Whitehouse is horrifying. Is there any way to protect law-abiding Americans from these stooges?
9
Your Justice system works; finally in this long nightmare filled with crass self seeking liars, the Yanks have something to be proud of.
11
Grateful to listen to Judge Sullivan. His outrage edifying. He spoke for most that 'You sold out your country', & we don't know the half of it.
7
I am old enough to remember way back when Trump repeated called the Clinton Foundation corrupt. Would it be funny if his own charity were shut down by the state of NY for corrupt practices? Like being used a slush fund for his family?
6
Please forgive me for seeming mean-spirited towards #45, but, #45's hairdo looks more and more like the Mayor of Whoville in Jim Carrey's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".
2
@Clint Grinch 2020. We could (are doing) worse.
They say every dog has their day!
Follow the money, follow the money, follow the money. For those of us who see DJT for what he is, a con man, thief, liar and disgusting example of a human male, there is only one way to bring this guy and his ilk down - follow the money. They are only interested in self-aggrandizing and enrichment. There is undoubtedly a trail of fraud, money laundering, etc., etc. The only thing needed is someone to open their eyes and see it. Yes, I'm speaking to you Mitch McConnell...
8
Thank you Judge-
The millions of people here in the US screaming every day at the news.....and not that fake one the President watches.
3
How do you circle the wagons when you only have one wagon and all the bad guys are in it?
2
@Tom Osterman
Frontal attack.
The truth shall set you free.
3
Is the new world ready to be identifed
roll up all the crooks one at a time - this is most enjoyable.
3
All this, and, meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mueller keeps grinding away. Tick tock, tick tock,....boom
2
There will be no justice until the day Trump is sentenced to four weeks of house arrest at a golf resort of his choice!
2
Nothing this president has done should be able to stand! Why should it, everything has been done in by a man who should be jailed, let alone not within 350 feet of the oval office. Why should anything he has done in office hold, given his endless illegal dealings before, and during this time; not to mention, the way in which he has worked to undermine our Countries standing in the world, putting in place a trade war that will take down our economy, lies, lies and more lies. Enough of this! Nothing he has done should stand!
3
The spectacle of a national hero like Flynn getting a lecture from a lightweight judge is disgraceful. It won't help Democrats of this kind of thing continues
@Mike Livingston
Flynn is not a "national hero".
@Mike Livingston
People who undermine the rule of law and the constitution are national disgraces, not heroes.
@Mike Livingston
NO HERO. He lied. NO HERO!
And a heavyweight judge with decades of experience. Live this reality!
What chilling news that Flynn while National Security Advisor to the President was taking money from the Turkish dictatorship.
3
Justice Sullivan, let Flynn squeal till he’s hoarse then lock him up. A person of mixed parentage would be convicted, so why not a mixed-up 4-Star who signed on with the Trump Crime Family and knowingly betrayed his country?
4
The day Generalisimo Francisco Franco finally died in Spain in November 1975, in my home town of Barcelona stores and wine shops ran out of champagne, so great was the celebration and general rejoicing. While I don't necessarily wish Trump's death (it would be too good for him and too un- Christian for me to wish it) ) I loook forward to popping a few corks the day he, his criminal family, his corrupt minions, his entire cabinet and the Republican Congress who failed to do their job, are marched to face the rule of law in orange jumpers. Won't happen soon enough!
11
Why aren’t the illegal campaign donations of the Trump Foundations ground to criminally indicted the President? He was in charge of all disbursements. Is criminal activity a cornerstone of the Republican Party? Forget the mafia. We have a new illegal cabal.
3
All this pales in comparison with what Trump's tax returns will show us. This is just a side show as we wait for the grand finale. Tax returns, tax returns, tax returns.
6
Shouldn’t there be a list of the Charitable Foundations or Boards that the three grown children serve on? If they do serve on any it might be prudent to look into the expenditures of those non-profits. As the only reason I could think of getting the three to serve would be for money........
9
Judge Sullivan asked the prosecutors if Flynn had committed treason.
That was the show stopper.
Hopefully a legal authority is going to ask this directly of Donald Trump.
13
It will take our legal system, on all levels, to drain Trump's swamp.
5
Lock him all.
Actually, all of then.
6
Isn’t it ironic that folks like Flynn and other Trump campaign official leading the chants of “lock her up!” end up in pleading guilty of crimes and facing prison time themselves? What’s the saying of living in glass houses...?
9
"Good luck today in court to General Michael Flynn,” Mr. Trump had tweeted first thing Tuesday morning.
Trump sounds like a mob boss threatening an informer.
And this really got me - Paula Duncan was a "Trump enthusiast" on the Manafort trial - why wouldn't a Trump enthusiast get excused for bias towards Manafort's employer?
5
Thank you Judge Sullivan for stepping into Sam Irvin’s shoes.
6
As soon as Trump engaged in authoritarian behavior and began to savage the law enforcement and intelligence communities, I thought this guy in the long run is toast.
Trump made a massive miscalculation in thinking his bullying and the power of the presidency would render the rule of law toothless.
I firmly believed that very same rule of law would come back to bite him really hard. And now the teeth are sinking into his posterior.
7
Is it possible that Trump's constant, insatiable lying is finally being acknowledged for what it really is?
He lives in a world of delusion, a world in which truth and fact have no meaning, a world of the moment with no foresight or planning, a world of immature infantile impulse driven by hubris and greed.
Judge Sullivan knows this as does everyone, yes EVERYONE, in the world. It is time to deal with this threat and call this incompetent criminal out. We need to deal in a world of reality, not one of Trumpian fantasy and infantile hissy fits.
13
I’m glad someone laid it out to Michael Flynn. He’s disgusting all on his own even without toadying for Trump. One wonders how many innocent people in Turkey have him to thank for their imprisonment or harassment by the dictator who runs their country.
6
Let's not forget that Barack Obama had the unmitigated gall to wear a tan suit while president.
He was also born outside of the United States in Hawaii.
Despite those monumental shortcomings, I really miss him.
14
And the Grey Poupon!
Don't forget the Grey Poupon!
1
@two cents
Don't forget - Trump falsely claimed that President Obama wiretapped him!
I miss Obama all the time...
You should publish a list of all the payments from the foundation for people to see!!
3
Since the founding of the Boy Scouts of America, the President of the United States is the honorary president of the organization during his/her term in office. Some role model.
2
Judge Emmett Sullivan is my nominee for the American hero of 2018. Truth and facts matter.
7
He can't handle the truth.
1
I’m beginnning to see the light at the end of the American carnage caused by the Trump taint.
Orange collar criminals cannot win against the formidable power of Lady Justice.
Like Mother Nature even Trumplicons can’t fool Lady Justice by grabbing by her scales.
I now have confidence to predict that when the “silence of the elephants” meets the hee hawing donkeys in a few weeks Lady Justice will continue to prevail. She will deserve the person of the year 2019 honorific and perhaps Ms. Universe.
2
It seems to me that the judge is a bit confused about the facts. Mr. Flynn has admitted lying to the FBI about his contacts with the Russian ambassador. But in that contact he lobbied for Israel - not Turkey.
It was a known fact. Trump was and is unfit for this highest office. It’s now been soiled beyond believe. This is a national shame brought to us by the GOP...again.
6
RE: "he felt 'disgust' at Mr. Flynn’s offenses, that a retired three-star general would lie to the F.B.I. 'while on the physical premises of the White House,' and, acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign country"
Those are offenses?
1. Lying (all the time) at the White House.
2. Acting as an unregistered agent for Russia, North Korea, and Saudi Arabia.
What's Trump to do? I guess the only things he can. Ridicule Judge Sullivan and pray he never appears before him in court and that there aren't more like him. (Though with his judcicial appointments he is increasing his odds on there no being daily.)
2
Snake oil salesman. And nothing more.
Way to go America.
2
I know just how Judge Sullivan feels - I’m disgusted every day that Trump is the President with his using the White House and the American government to perpetuate and facilitate his lies and deception to the American people. Dump Trump 2020 - Restore integrity to the White House and turn it blue.
4
“a shocking pattern of illegality”
"Whatever money that remains will be disbursed...seeking $2.8 million in restitution...a ban on Mr. Trump and his three oldest children serving on the boards of other nonprofit organizations."
What about prison time?!!!!
Trump and his three oldest children are an organized crime family. The Trump charity was nothing but a front for criminal activity: defrauding donors, funneling money where it served their interests, tax avoidance, and sham good publicity.
Trump and his children are criminals. Lock them up!
7
Mr. Trump doesn't know the meaning of truth.
4
After former President Trump gets out of prison, he will be able to vote since he is a resident of Florida. Thank goodness we still live in a democracy!
5
I see a bright future in the Republican Party for Michael Flynn.
3
I wonder what charity is paying for all those Flynn supporters to come out and chant 'witch hunt' at the trial?
2
A phoney charity! What dreadful, skunkish behaviour.
How will the Base obfuscate such deceit? If this doesnt shake a few Christians out of his tree, what will?
5
I wish Flynn’s judge could express that disgust to the complicit GOP Senate.
5
Truth had a good day today in DC, while here in NJ in the village of Peapack-Gladstone, down the street fro Trump’s Bedminster golf course, there was a man with a full Jail Mueller conspiracy display showing all the crazy lies and making it impossible for shoppers to visit stores in their town a few days before Christmas.
2
So corrupt, immoral and indecent, it's amazing 45 has the gall to wake up in the morning.
3
I have come to the conclusion that Trump & Co. is Republican payback for Boss Tweed & Co.
2
Nothing but the truth?? it is against Trump's religion to tell the truth.
The most likely end of this demagogue/alleged criminal will be not running or defeated for a second term since any criminal/impeachment action that may be taken against him will go thru the courts for two yrs.
Another possibility is what the MSNBC newsman Chris Matthews said. He may resign in exchange for no state, or federal gov't DA type given him jail time.
6
Poetic justice! I cant tell you how relieved I feel knowing that after hearing the disgusting slogans of 'lock 'er up' that the real culprit who betrayed this country comes from good ol' 'Merican stock. Born and Bred! Flynn's on the noose and the Judge, rightly, will keep him dancing for three months. That will feel longer than the actual prison sentence. You're next Mr. Trump, you and your despicable family.
4
Can you imagine what Republicans would be doing if this level of criminality were unfolding around a president Hillary Clinton?!
8
I have to ask, at what point does Rupert Murdoch's propaganda machine get held to accountability? Every good dictator knows they need a media channel through which to feed their lies through. How is promoting division and conspiracies without any factual evidence legally allowed? He's also destroying the UK and Australia. That repugnant media mogul is also a dangerous egomaniac and a criminal, but instead of being the one running the country, he controls the people's minds... He is the threat to democracies in more than one country and he MUST be stopped now.
7
The least common denominator in this sorted narrative is larceny. The larcenous mind adapts their playbook to the situation. A well crafted operation pinches the purse while guilding the lily.
These storylines reveal the heart $ soul of a party. Who was short changed in ethical and moral compass development. A party without that compass feels compelled to act in amoral ways. That without a societal filter of right or wrong their Access Hollywood bus careens wildly and causes mayhem $ mischief.
What’s a Country to do, when the doo doo of the top dog is left littered throughout the Whitehouse? As the dog catcher rounds up their pack, the kennels begin to fill.
Is Fido soon to follow?
3
One of the overriding take-aways from all of this is the self serving greed of all of the players. Mr. Flynn and his contract with the Turks in which he sells himself, and his country to a foreign power; Mr. Cohen and his loyalty to the Trump family while making millions, in addition to his own sleazy taxi business, Mr. Manafort and his sidekick Mr. Gates and their enrichment schemes in Ukraine; and biggest of all, mob boss Trump and family with their tax cheating, defrauding workers, those who fell for the Trump University scam and who donated to the Trump Foundation. Rotten to the core, all of them. It is time for the law to put them all in their place.
5
Explaining her decision after the verdict, she told Fox News, “No one’s above the law.” This, coming from a Trump enthusiast.
Maybe there's hope after all.
3
One can only imagine what is taking place out of sight in the WH, where belief in evidence is nonexistent.
5
Considering all the legal problems and other crimes and alleged crimes I think it would be quite appropriate for the Trump Presidential library to be located in the San Francisco Bay at the site of the former Alcatraz prison, I think we should start a petition and submit that idea.
4
Listen to the "conservatives" complain about activist judges like Judge Emmet Sullivan - when they put people with despicable ideas like Kavanaugh, Gorsuch and Thomas on OUR U.S. Supreme Court to try to make OUR United States of America over in their own demented image.
Thanks and Kudos to Judge Sullivan and all "activist" judges who want to preserve democracy in OUR United States of America until WE THE PEOPLE hire/elect Socially Conscious Women and men who will work for 99.9% of us.
I do not care what the "law" or dictionary say. Mr. Flynn committed treason by my book. He tried to help International Mafia figures like Putin and Erdogan - and probably others we do not know about - take over OUR country.
He should spend the rest of his life in prison. WE THE PEOPLE do not want his "war" games. Not now. Not ever again.
10
At long last there is a glimmer of hope this nightmare of a presidency will lose its power and the destructive agenda its sycophants have been foisting on a mostly helpless populace.
Thank God, one of the three branches of government has the temerity to challenge this administration and speak the unassailable truth to ots corrupt power. The cries of "Fake News!" are growing ever more shrill and falling on ever more deaf ears.
On a side but related note, I applaud the New York Times for finally relegating the daily soap opera that is Trump's tweeterage and other outrages to the backwaters of the front page. That beasts should have been starved long age. That it wasn't across the whole spectrum of media, played an outsize role in its rise. May it contribute to its demise now that the tables have turned.
6
How can it take so long to "discover" that the foundation was a sham? What was the state of NY doing?
What were the republicans thinking accepting a traitor in the White House? Ryan knew, because there is a recording or Republicans talking about it, and I cannot think that Mueller did not interview him (which prompted him to retire?), and there were more than strong suggestions that Trump was bought by the Russians, and who knows how many other countries.
Somehow, Hillary's poor showing saved the deal. Otherwise, if a better candidate would have won we would not know the depth of the rottenness in the whole system. Maybe, just maybe, Mueller got it all on time.
Trump had a charity foundation, and the state of NY was OK with that oxymoron for decades. It is a family of gangsters, fair and square. I would have him just be an incompetent only, that happened to win the election on the shoulders of an electorate with poor judgement. It is much worse.
4
@Ard
Clinton beat Trump by 3M popular votes. The Clinton Foundation has been investigated many times; it has a AA rating from Charity Watch.
This might be our era's "have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?" moment. Yesterday's seminal events (the dissolution of Trump's charity and Flynn's sentencing) felt clarifying and cleansing; a welcome return of truth.
4
Righteous indignation has its place. For some, the speaking of the truth is a crime- violating some internal distortion of their thinking- or worse, showing them for who they are. And people fear this the most- that they are unmasked for who they are. Deep seated insecurity motivates men and woman to do horrible things- rooted as it is in the most powerful emotion- fear. And this is tragic because the most powerful emotion should be love- and love, while it can and should be compassionate is unsparing with the truth. Fear is for cowards. Love is for the truly brave.
2
I was always uncomfortable with Mueller's position that Flynn should be given zero jail time for his actions. Flynn is not just some backstage understudy that did something wrong. He is a former 3-Star General who was in a covenant with the United States of America. The shame of his conspiracy is unimaginable.
Yes, Flynn is human and like anyone, capable of impulses like greed or power. But he swore oath to a higher standard. Who would imagine a high-ranking officer of the United States military acting against the state?
5
So retired lieutenant general Mike Flynn, a national security adviser and a Director of Intelligence was tricked into lying by those naughty FBI agents who questioned him.
A seriously highly qualified and experienced professional was so easily sucker punched?
At any point during those 19 interviews lasting 61 hours did it ever occur to him to object to how he was being treated and ask for a lawyer?
Come on now. this was not some 14 year old shoplifter who had the right to have his parents present.
4
Hopefully Mueller has everything he needs because what the editors fail to point out is that if Mueller's team cuts a deal with Flynn in exchange for a reduced sentence etc and then the Judge doesn't go along, Mueller is crippled in getting future witnesses to cooperate. Per Mueller's team, Flynn cooperated and didn't deserve prison time. To me, this sounds more like a Judge who wants his day in the news.
Since Trump has been in office I havent heard of Europe telling me they run the country when Bush came in europe took over our country new world order
I am glad that our legal institutions are still holding strong against this administration, though given the way he has been packing the courts I have to worry about how long even the Law will hold.
I can just picture the next rally held by the man in the White House:
"Who are you going to believe? The fake media, the activist judges, the deep state so-called investigators and your lying eyes? Or me?"
Too much of his crowd will cheer and shout, "Trump! Trump! Trump!"
It's not easy to talk reality with somebody who has chosen to believe a lying demagogue.
3
Had trump resisted the siren call of his ego and kept away from the race for president, he could have continued his grifter's life.
But hubris turned the microscope his way and the rumored corruption exploded into public view.
This is the perfect example of the old adage,"give 'em enough rope".
10
@Robert FL
Many believe Trump ran for president to get revenge against Obama for humiliating him at the White House Correspondents Dinner.
Trump never has decent motives for anything he does...
Do you think the Judge will tune in to Adam Schiff's Congressional committee to see how truthful Flynn is before he decides on sentencing?
2
The truth will one day set America free from the most unholy
being to make use of the Oval Office rest room.
-All the best in court!
3
Said the judge to Flynn: “Arguably, you sold your country out. I’m not hiding my disgust, my disdain, for this criminal offense. I can’t promise you a sentence that involves no jail time”
How thick the irony that Flynn led chants of "Lock her up!"
Karma, Mr. Flynn. Karma.
5
Trump is the most dishonest president to occupy the White House but his defenders constantly invoke the "deep state" to justify his lies and illegal behavior. The only real deep state is his deep state of denial.
2
There seems to be no limit to the decadence and corruption of the Trump administration.
3
Lawrence O'Donnell said on MSNBC that Judge Sullivan should have known that Flynn betrayed his office and his country by his conduct, but Treason is an offense neither he nor any other American can be tried with "Treason," because we'd have to be officially at war by declaration of Congress, and Congress has not declared ware against another nation since World War II. It would be nice if Americans left and right would remember that and stop throwing that word around so speciously.
1
Michael Flynn lied. But did he go much farther than that? Judge Sullivan clearly thought so when he asked the prosecutor if he committed "treason." While they replied " No, " one now must wonder given Flynn's prior connection to Russia where he say next to Vladimir Putin at a ST event. Was he, as many signs outside the courthouse "Putin's puppet" who he installed in The White House. No prosecutor would admit to that given that Flynn is not through cooperating and the investigation is ongoing, but the predicate has been laid and the implication is extremely ominous. Winter is coming, but who is it coming for?
1
.....a ban on Mr. Trump and his three oldest children serving on the boards of other nonprofit organizations.
Wait a sec....he is banned by law from serving on a non-profit organization yet allowed by law to sign legislation and pass laws and Presidential Directives? How is this ok?
2
Having known of Donald Trump since the early 1980’s, I considered him a corrupt con artist, a lifetime filled with fraud and skirting the law - a person totally unfit for the role of Presdient of the United States. And, it appears as President, he has surrounded himself with corrupt people. He did not hire “the best” in a positive sense.
I am deeply disturbed by the corrupt and illegal acts of General Flynn. Spending most of my life as a military dependent, I have run across a few “crazy generals” (my term) but none I would have thought capable of working with foreign adversaries and allies for money or for a presidential candidate with an unusual passion for a Russian dictator and Russian anti-democratic policies. Flynn’s campaign speeches were shameful to the uniform he had worn and the country he had served. Flynn’s unlawfulness angers me perhaps in the same way it disgusted Judge Sullivan. I would have preferred to “Lock him up!”
A person with nominal allegiance to the United States and to what the democratic Republic stands for, would have quit the Trump campaign at the first mention (in October, 2016) of Russian interference and intention to help Candidate Trump get elected. The fact Michael Flynn did not quit demonstrated to me he cared more about Russian assistance and the clearly anti-democratic, pro-Russian platform of Donald Trump than he did his own country’s interests and national security.
2
Thank goodness for the judicial branch!
Yeah, it was shameful for Flynn to get off so easily, what with engaging in planning to kidnap someone and send him to probable torture and certain death.
And all that after self-righteously chanting "Lock her up!"
As to the idea that he was tricked into lying, that's so cheap and whiny, I am appalled. Most of had parents who would never have stood for such a self-serving whine.
2
Listening to "Judge" Jeanine gush over how Judge Sullivan was reliably going to see through the phoniness of the Mueller investigation (as he's known to have been hard on prosecutors in the past) and throw out the ENTIRE case against "Mike" Flynn because everyone KNOWS Mueller and his entire team is conflicted was enlightening.
I wonder how the "Judge" and her Trumpist colleagues at Fox are faring now that Sullivan, who has read ALL the Flynn testimony and documents, included the redacted stuff we don't see, did just the opposite. Instead, he reamed Flynn up and down, even asking the prosecution is he might have committed treason (they answered "no") and ripped away all the lies of Trump & Co.
Clearly there were 2 straws that broke the camel's back yesterday: That 2 of Flynn's associates were indicted for acting as unregistered foreign agents of Turkey, planning with Flynn to kidnap a green-card holder in PA for Erdogan, and the ludicrous letter from Flynn's attorneys asserting he was "tricked" into lying to the FBI.
Clearly Judge Sullivan has a very accurate "nonsense detector" (avoiding the more graphic term) and was having none of it!
“I cannot recall an instance of a court ever accepting a guilty plea from someone who did not maintain he was guilty, and I do not intend to start today.”
Judge Sullivan demonstrated yesterday that the Law, the Facts, and the Truth, have a liberal and anti-Trump bias! Bravo!
1
At this rate we may be electing our 48th president in 2020.
1
And yet his enablers in Congress don't give a hoot. They are deaf, dumb and blind to Trump's high crimes and misdemeanors. Why? Because they are on the take, too. The NRA laundered millions in Russian money and gave $30 million to Trump's campaign alone. You can bet that McConnell, Hatch and the rest of them were happy to take some of that laundered money too.
3
I cannot help but think, especially when I look at the accompanying photograph, of a quote (I believe I read it in the NYT) that "Trump is a Golem made of America's sins." Flynn, along with so many (GOP) who jumped on board with him, helped to create him. Eventually Trump will eat them all.
1
Re "Trumpian Spin Had Its Day in Court" -- as Jimmy Durante used to say "You ain't seen nothing yet!". President Trump's frauds, scams, lies, corruption, collusion and complicity haven't come home to roost. Americans all are looking to Donald Trump being hoist by his own petard in his red MAGA hat and white golf shirt. Trump tweeted "Good Luck in court to General Michael Flynn" yesterday (though he called his lawyer of 12 years "a rat"). Merry Christmas, Judges and juries! No man is above the law, even if he says he is.
1
According to FOX, charges against Flynn were about to be dismissed because of the "trick", so why would any Trump supporter believe anything other than Flynn was going to walk out of that courtroom a free man?
I'm certain Trump himself expected that to happen since the FOX shadow news government informed him this was about to happen.
4
... and while all this is going on, who is running the Presidential issues of the day ... anyone ?
2
It should be noted in this article that when someone appears in court for sentencing, he is not under oath.
Yet Judge Sullivan put the not-so-honourable General Flynn under oath when asked about his lawyers memorandum that the F.B.I. had set a trap for him, including not informing him of the right to counsel, when they payed him a visit in his office in the People's House.
Mr. Comey confirmed that his office had indeed told Flynn that he could have the White House Counsel in the room.
Flynn, the lock-her-up Alpha Man was as arrogant as his boss by believing he could lie his way out of his legal troubles.
I pray to all the gods on Mount Olympus that Flynn told SC Mueller where all of Trump's bodies are buried and this will be the beginning of the end of the con-man and mob-family boss sitting in the Oval Office.
Waiting almost two more years until the next election to get rid of Trump will create even more damage to the US and its reputation around the world than is has up to now.
3
In 1989, Don Jr. was 11 yrs old and joined the Boy Scouts. The fee for joining was $7.00. At the same time the Trump Charity "donated" $7.00 to the Boy Scouts.
There is no bottom to the trump pit of putrescence.
2
Flynn’s lawyers also floated out lies.How about disbarment for their blatant dishonesty.
2
I’m reminded of Emperor Nero.
Trump fiddles, while Washington and the nation burns.
2
I have no idea how a person who works against their country with another country, could get no time in prison. I cannot think of a worse crime. Gee!.
2
Judge Sullivan may have told Flynn "nothing but the truth," but the judge told monstrous lies in open court. He alleged Flynn "arguably" committed treason and said Flynn betrayed his country by acting as a foreign agent while serving as National Security Advisor. Sullivan appears to have gotten these lies directly from partisan blog sites, since none of them appear in evidence presented to the court. As the Wall Street Journal noted, “The outburst was too much even for the lawyers for Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who had to tell the judge that Mr. Flynn did not represent any foreign entity while at the White House.”
If Sullivan had said these things before a jury, Flynn's lawyers would have asked for a immediate mistrial, but Flynn wants the trial over and done with. He is charged not with treason or betrayal of his country but with a misdemeanor offense. The federal sentencing guidelines for lying to the FBI for a person with no previous convictions is zero to six months. (George Papadopoulos got 14 days.) Among the many mitigating circumstances presented to the court are Justice Department documents that show none of the FBI agents who interviewed Flynn though he lied intentionally.
Give whatever Trump foundation money remains to military families, starting with the families whose holidays have been ruined by the abusive and unnecessary deployment of Regular forces to the border.
3
I hope Planned Parenthood receives a substantial donation from that Foundation.
2
What boggles the mind is not this continuing expose of Trump’s criminality and treasonous behavior.
It is the continuing silence of Republicans, you know, the party of moral values, the party of patriots.
Hey Sarah Huckabee Sanders and all Christian Evangelicals:
Whatever happened to Thou Shalt Not Steal?
2
Everything in your editorial (thousands of commentators have been saying the same and more right here in these sections) implies that the time for patience is over. We have to kick this crook and all his family (by blood, marriage and mafioso affiliation) into where they belong: jail.
A person with a modicum of logic not to mention ethical education will accept the fact that we have made a huge mistake in electing this man to the Presidency. At this point any voter who still hasn’t seen his or her mistake is also guilty unless they prove that they have been drugged by aliens coming off UFO’s or by Russians in public parks handing vials of unknown substances in contraband Nina Ricci perfume bottles.
2
I don't understand why Flynn's lawyers would say he was tricked into lying. As lawyers they had to know the essence of a negotiated guilty plea is that the party freely admits his guilt. Lousy lawyering!!!!
2
Yup. Chain the swamp. All of them, if they're found guilty.
And for the big finish, an orange jumpsuit to match the skin.
2
"The truth". Times Editorial Board, you all are hilarious. I'm laughing right now. Thanks for adding a little levity to my morning.
1
Two words in the second last paragraph should send a chill through American souls:
“Trump enthusiast”.
After 30+ years of lying, cheating, incompetence and illegality people can still embrace his philosophy.
It is impossible to find an example of him displaying American values and yet his millions of supporters cheer as he continues to damage what they once valued.
2
Thank you Judge Sullivan.
Finally, somebody spoke for the Republic, for the rule of law and reflected the true awfulness of this administration and that includes General Flynn.
I will never forget how he disgracefully led "lock her up" chants.
He deserves to go to prison.
4
A judge used the word treason in relation to activities carried out while working for Trump's campaign.
About time.
1
It's awfully quiet out there in the land of Trump's supporters and enablers. How low does your man have to go?
2
The Trump Presidency has become a national nightmare. The stories keep getting worse. The nation longs for a return of “No Drama” Obama !!!
History will not be kind to the Trump debacle.
4
Can we next put the President of Judge Sullivan? I'd love to see him squirm when being faced with facts and the consequences of his misdeeds. Please, make it so!
1
The more upholders of our legal system venture into the rabbit hole of Trump's sleazy lair, the more we all ( blind base supporters get a pass here) should be aghast at the lies, manipulation and disregard for the law and the implications this has for the country. For the self-proclaimed genius (i.e., POTUS) it is becoming abundantly clear he either has limited ability to think (cognitive flaw) or he clearly thinks he doesn't need to worry about irritating matters such as the law (character flaw) as this only applies to weak people, losers, and those with low I.Q.'s like myself.
1
What shocked me yesterday (yesterday, as opposed to the days before) were the people chanting their support for Flynn. Aren't they supposed to be the most patriotic souls in the country? Way more patriotic than the socialist Bernie Sanders who advocates for universal health care. What is wrong with these people? Thanks again, Fox, for what you have wrought.
2
His judgement cometh,
and that right soon.
Michael Flynn is a disgrace to the uniform and the country.
Donald Trump debases the country every day he remains in office.
Those who support either, or both are exactly what they appear to be.
James Comey got it exactly right when he chastised the republicans for abetting Trump in his debasement of the country while ignoring the inconvenience of facts and law.
Seriously, if you have a brain, if you are capable of dispassionate analytical thought, if you believe in the secular notion of a nation governed by law ...
... how can you possibly support republican politicians?
3
Anyone else remember how adamant the pro-Trumpers were saying that, since Judge Sullivan had asked for details about the 302's and such, he was going to do the same that he did with Ted Stevens?
I guess yet another reason why the want to load the court with Conservative judges who meet their ... standards.
2
Any day now, any day now, we shall be released.
3
Flynn should be looking at 20 years and expressing gratitude that it's not a life sentence. He's a traitor, simple as that.
2
Judge Emmet Sullivan upbraided Michael Flynn in court, “I mean, arguably, that undermines everything this flag over here stands for. Arguably, you sold your country out.”
Wow! Wonder what Judge Sullivan would have to say to President Trump, if he were to appear in his court? After all, we have a president, who has repeatedly denigrated his own Justice Department and the FBI. In fact, Trump has chosen to believe the word of murderous thugs and dictators—such as, Mohammed Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia on the brutal murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Vladimir Putin on Russia’s interference in our 2016 presidential election, Kim Jong Un on the status of North Korea’s denuclearization efforts—over the high confidence findings of his own intelligence agencies.
I mean, arguably, that undermines everything our flag over here stands for. Arguably, Mr. President, you sold your country out! These are prophetic words that we might be loath to hear, but once the Mueller report comes out, we might be forced to contemplate.
3
Yesterday on Deadline White House (MSNBC) Donny Deutsch who knows Trump well, said that his son went to the same NYC school as Barron Trump and that the Trump Foundation gave $50,000 to the school. Now why would a charitable foundation give money to his son's school and not the father who is a billionaire? That donation should have come out of Donald's own pocket but, of course, it didn't because Trump is a skin flint and nothing comes out of his own pocket.
The Foundation even paid $7 for Don Jr's boy scout badge. Trump is a cheap man. Everything flows from that.
4
Courts are not interested in Trump’s “alternative facts”. Just facts. Facts and Trump are on a collision course. Schadenfreude.
3
We are living in an alternate universe in which lies become the truth and the truth become lies. How much longer can we exist in this state? In a mere two years our country as we know it is gone, replaced by a foreign universe of mendacity and corrupt behavior. Traitors all! Lock them up!!
1
Wondering:
When will we be moving on to condemning Trump parents for bearing him at all ??
Is Mr. Muesli going to question the school principals to justify having educated him ?
Time for Trumps day in court.
1
Finally an editorial that has gotten it completely right.
Thankyou.
1
What I care about now is that 'President' Mike Pence does not pardon Donald Trump.
Pence's political views are odious to me.
However, Mike Pence has a B.A. in history and graduated from the law school at Indiana University. He worked as an attorney for several years. Pence was a Democrat as a young man and in those days, in his 20s, stated that he was inspired to go into politics by JFK and Martin Luther King, Jr. Pence idolized John F. Kennedy.
Pence has a son serving in the Marines.
It's important when the time is right - and it can't start too early - for the people of the United States of America to let the future president know that if Donald J. Trump has betrayed his country, he deserves to go to prison. Trump should not receive a pardon if he has betrayed his country.
There have been rumors that there will be a deal for Pence to pardon Trump immediately after he is sworn into office - assuming Trump is forced from office and Mike Pence becomes POTUS.
I want Donald Trump to go to prison. I don't want Mike Pence to pardon him.
It's never too early to consider constitutional and historical dilemmas that may be on the horizon....
2
Speaking of spin, the judge walked back his statement that Flynn had committed treason, said he got the timeline wrong and felt terrible about it.
That was part of your story from yesterday but it didn't stop you from using the treason quote as part of the headline.
You've modified your story since then. But there are thousands of readers, based on the comments, who think the judge thought Flynn committed treason.
How about an apology, Times? The judge said he felt terrible. How do you feel?
1
I understand that none of this is funny but there are a few things that have left me laughing: Trump using his charity to pay for a portrait of himself, to pay for various fines that should have come out of other monies, and how little the charity did for anyone but Trump. I laughed because this is what one expects of someone who is enamored of himself and what should have been given more exposure when he was running for president. Selfish and self-centered people do not make good leaders.
Trump has managed to tarnish everything and everyone he's touched. Do people think that Trump's ability to evade the consequences of his actions and words extends to them? Does lying make the offense go away? I cannot understand how a former general, supposedly grounded in reality and knowing what honor, integrity, and leadership are, can bring himself to lie or even work for a man like Donald Trump. Power must be a strong aphrodisiac to lead a former general to do what Flynn did.
Trump is not going to escape unsinged by this. In fact, the flames may be climbing higher around the White House and his businesses. He can lie and tweet angry thoughts all he wants but the facts will come out. Why? Lie to law enforcement and watch what happens when they learn you lied: they are inexorable.
4
Yesterday was but one day in many days to come where our country is going to be tested in how we react to the facts colliding with the Trump alternative facts.
It was Kellyanne Conway who first brought forward the notion with Chuck Todd of MSNBC that there were facts and then there were alternative facts. What we saw yesterday was a judge saying that there are only facts, just facts.
Trump, his administration, the GOP, and Fox News have all bet the farm on a world where alternative facts actually exist. What happens if alternative facts do not exist - it looks like we are about to find out.
7
It appeared that Flynn was being teed up by Trump, Huckabee ("ambushed") Sanders, and fellow law-breaker apologists to be a constant presence on Fox, no doubt attacking the careful, rules-focused, patriotic, Mueller investigation.
So glad a Judge's commitment to the rule of law was able to interrupt this path and perhaps shake some sense into Flynn himself.
7
We're only just scratching the surface. There are 17 known investigations associated with the Trump administration right now. My friend I were going to parody "The Twelve Days of Christmas" but we ran out of days. Anything Hanukkah themed has been out of the running for awhile now. We're working on a investigatory Advent calendar now instead. If we hurry, maybe we'll have enough space. Once the Democratic House takes over, we'll need to start a page-a-day calendar.
15
Lawyer Cohen got it right about ruing the day he ever got involved with Trump. The word of the year "toxic" says it all when it comes to relationships with Trump. It certainly describes Michael Flynn's relationship. He threw away his honor, dignity and good name. And for what? The chance to work for Donald Trump? How did he ever rise to the level of 3 star general when he appears to have no foresight or ethics. Toxic isn't he former Gen. Flynn. It pleases me greatly that the law is after all things Trump. Perhaps soon the kids will realize Dad's toxic.
6
I think even Putin and the Russians aren't as corrupt as the Trumps, the Trump cabinet, Fox News, and the Senators who voted to approve someone like Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. And the Russians definitely aren't as incompetent as the Trump people and his Congressional poodles. Oligarchy sure, but I think Vlad is too proud to want Russia to be seen as a banana republic like the U.S. is becoming.
9
@Cowboy Marine,
Too late.
The dirty russians surrendered any moral high ground, they MAY have had, the second sawed off bilbo putin annexed Ukraine.
Russia is a kindergarten filled with pathetic little wannabee sheep.
1
@Cowboy Marine,
Russia?
The country that cheated at Olympic Curling?
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetorch/2018/02/22/587849425/russian-curler-stripped-of-olympic-bronze-after-hes-found-guilty-of-doping
I think you're wrong.
Russia is the worst.
1
I always told my daughters that if they kept spinning, they would get dizzy and not feel well. Someone should have given this White House the same advice. Judging by the tweets, demeanor and facial expressions, I believe the president has spun too much.
5
Given Donald Trump's lifelong practice of ignoring, expanding and denying the truth, it's hard to imagine that suddenly, by Judge's order or not, he's going to change.
And it has become all too apparent that if the entire story behind his willingness to change events to suit his purposes is ever to be known, it will come from the mouths of those most closely associated with him -- if only to save their own necks.
Like Michael Cohen and Michael Flynn are doing now.
It's always interesting to see those who have willingly victimized others play the victim card themselves.
Except that this time, it doesn't seem to be working.
No one is above the law.
427
@N. Smith
Trump could be fitted for his orange jump suit, all the evidence having been laid out in court and he found guilty, and he would still be blaming others and proclaiming his innocence.
He has lied to himself, believes himself smarter and more entitled, and has a distorted view of reality. At his age that is unlikely to change.
59
@N. Smith A narcissist of Trump's caliber is never in his own mind wrong. He will die a bitter and broken man, not because he was found out but because in his mind no one recognized him for his superiority.
48
@N. Smith. As usual, lefties accuse him of lying without giving one bad lie he told. Really, what was the most damaging lie he told? Lefties just like to call him a liar without putting their cards on the table. What did he lie about that was so damaging to anyone??
His inauguration was huge?
He sure lied about the wall, but that's about it.
1
With everything in your editorial (thousands of commentators have bern saying the same and more right here in these sections) implies that the time for patience is over. We have to kick this crook and all his family (by blood, marriage and mafioso affiliation) into where they belong: jail.
A person with a modicum of logic not to mention ethical education will accept the fact that we have made a huge mistake in electing this man to the Presidency. At this point any voter who still hasn’t seen his or her mistake is also guilty unless they prove that they have been drugged by aliens coming off UFO’s or by Russians in public parks handing vials of unknown substances in contraband Nina Ricci perfume bottles.
17
Is Trump the poster boy for what happens when greed is unchecked by adequate laws and effective law enforcement?
He has brazenly defrauded banks, customers and contractors, without serious penalty and has now gone on to defraud voters. He saw his political campaign as a way of enhancing his brand so he could sell more Trump steaks. He sees the Presidency as a way of benefitting his businesses and expanding into other countries.
As President he pursues his pet peeves and uses his office to attack personal enemies (anyone who criticizes him) while doing the absolute minimum amount of work. (Watching Fox and Friends is his daily briefing.)
Is it any wonder that he attracts fellow grifters like Manafort? Or that his grifting encourages someone like Flynn to cash in on his affiliation with Trump?
17
A president who follows no laws
And who lives for the sound of applause
Is learning the lesson
He shouldn’t be messing
With evils his arrogance might cause
15
Almost lost in the tsunami of lies, treason, fraud, and previously unimaginable behavior of an American President is how totally "not normal" it is for the head of the executive branch to make a comment of support ('good luck, Micheal Flynn') to a man who has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, is viewed by some as having committed treason and is going to be sentenced by the judicial branch. It is so hard to hold onto the understanding that this behavior is wrong. It would have been wrong if any other president did it and it is wrong today. We must remember this.
929
@barbara schenkenberg
I agree, it's unbelievable.
So what information does Trump know Flynn is still withholding from the Special Counsel that could be damaging to Trump?
37
@barbara schenkenberg But, Trump has relied very heavily on luck, based on his own past history, How else can you explain where he is right now? Certainly not by his intelligence, righteousness , goodness? Only the Devil (and hopefully Robert Mueller) can explain how Trump got to be POTUS.
23
@barbara schenkenberg
@Rufus Collins I bet to differ. I haven't heard regular news in two years from the major cable channels; CNN, MSNBC and Fox.
1
Thanks, Judge Sullivan, for telling Flynn and Trump's other lackeys -- especially Sarah Sanders and Fox's purveyors of disinformation, chief among them Hannity and "Judge" Jeanine Pirro -- in no uncertain terms that their conspiracy theories and attacks on the FBI will not be tolerated in his courtroom. And thank you judge for raising the question about treason. What the Trump cabal has done in colluding with Russia and what it is still doing certainly appears to be treasonous.
20
Good job Judge Emmet Sullivan
who, interesting enough, was appointed to be a Judge by President Reagan- the DC court, President George H. W. Bush - the DC Appellate Court and finally President Clinton - the US District Court
11
Telling that the Obama administration would have nothing to do with Michael Flynn and Trump embraced him.
16
The strength and integrity of the three co-equal branches of government have been severely tested over the past several years. Two of these branches have been severely compromised, and the judicial branch has come to America’s rescue. This great country will likely face many more tests like this in the future, but it is heartening to see the wisdom of the founding fathers prevailing yet again. America is the oldest Republic in the modern era, and many countries continue to look up to America’s leadership as the world’s leading bastion of freedom and liberty. It is my hope that this continues into the future.
4
Mobster John Gotti of New York was once famously known as the “Teflon Don”, having avoided successfull prosecution for years. Of course, his luck eventually ran out and he succumbed to a solitary death while imprisoned in a federal penitentiary. Trump’s own life calls to mind, for a number of cogent reasons, the sordid saga of that other Don. Having never really faced adequate consequences for his harmful amoral behaviors over the course of many years, injuring numerous people, it strongly appears that the Presidential Don’s own luck is also now evaporating, A prison cell could also be awaiting this one in the end.
12
None of this makes any sense. This profoundly godless man, whose self-dealing and self-serving ways know no bounds, is still adored by the majority of America's so-called Christians. Why? Do they really believe if Jesus were alive today he would be illegally amassing a huge fortune while shunning the world's poor? Every Christian in the US should be marching in the streets demanding Trump resign immediately. Instead they clearly intend to defend him until the bitter end.
As Mark Twain said, "If Jesus came today the one thing he wouldn't be is a Christian."
17
@Keir Shakespeare Those people are "fake" Christians; they proclaim their faith and do good deeds now and then (i.e., at Christmas) only as a means of getting themselves into heaven. If I am wrong, why, then, does homelessness and poverty persist in such an overtly Christian country?
1
The rich corporate elite have co-opted a percentage of the general public by seizing upon simple things held dear for mid America like hunting and church going and turning them into very distorted weapons for whipping up votes. They have spun this idea into an emotional message by a combination of lies, deliberately splitting off a section of the Republican party and radicalizing it. It is an amazingly cynical process. It is also easy to radicalize this nieve group due to the constant exposure they have to this distorted propaganda from several sources, like the NRA.
1
If Hillary Clinton had done approximately 1/1000,000,000th of the things Trump has obviously done that violate the law (his "foundation" being just one small example), she would long since been locked up, and the Republicans would have thrown away the key.
It is just astounding to me that the Republicans are either so clueless that they cannot see the disparity in their treatment of Trump vis-a-vis Hillary Clinton, or else that they are so morally bankrupt that they condone, or at least give a pass to, everything Trump does -- while still having the gall to use taxpayer dollars in late 2018 to investigate Clinton's emails.
837
@ALB
"Republicans are either... clueless or ...morally bankrupt "
Clearly the latter.
They never cared about Benghazi! (it was Republicans who cut money for Embassy security) or emails (many Bush emails had been deleted and many Republicans used non-government accounts)
82
@ALB. Or...if Obama or anyone in his administration had done a fraction of trump's mess, can you imagine the republican horror and spin?
52
@ALB
You got it right with "morally bankrupt"
57
Right the truth, but nothing happens. I don’t understand how this level of lying can be in leadership. I thought we had laws. I was wrong. Now I know why Government mistrust is rampant.
4
The final words of the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag are: "Liberty and justice for all."
That is because America is a democratic republic, with a constitution that places no King, royal, dictator, nor person above the law. Donald Trump is attempting to trample that proposition with the help of Ruppert Murdock's un American TV propaganda machine and his Tweeting thumbs.
There will be a constitutional crisis that will determine whether America continues as a democratic republic where no person is above the law and America will do what it has always done and reject having a king.
7
Right wing conspiracies are right; there is a deep state. Authoritarian groups seeking to dismantle our democracy indeed detect a force deep in the fabric of our system that protects it. Justices and law enforcement and military officials swear loyalty to it, not a president, not a king, nor any other strongman. America is a land of laws, protecting our democracy, the constitution and the bill of rights, Iow the deep state is the law
7
This presidency will go down as one of the most staggering acts of hubris and self-delusion in history. How he thought -- and continues to think (although perhaps he's beginning to detect a bit of writing on some wall or other) -- that the construct of his entire life would not collapse under the weight of accountability (and from the glare of the spotlight he continually seeks) will keep psychologists, law book authors, and commentators in business for a long, long time.
12
It amazes me that so many of us are still just coming to realize the vast ghastliness of the Trump “Presidency.”
Anyone who watched Donald Trump act out during the Presidential Debates could see that there was something seriously wrong with the man.
How he got past the final debate and the revelation of his sexual assault boasts to go on to the White House is a mystery that historians will be trying to unravel for the remainder of this nation’s existence.
10
As I read the daily horror show that is the Trump presidency, it reveals what I believe to be the essential story of this sad era.
Trump didn't really want to be president. He did want to get even with Obama for the White House Correspondents debacle.
And what to his great surprise? He was elected.
Now, because he's both ignorant and stubborn, he has to act as though he knows what he's doing, despite having neither the preparation nor the wisdom for the job. And so he tweets, postures, blathers and stumbles through every day. Like Chance the Gardener in the brilliant movie Being There, Trump watches television, picks up a phrase or two and declares it as his next policy position or dollop of governing "philosophy." Then, when it turns out to be stupid or cruel, he doubles down. His most glaring liability - hard to see the glare when the flash fires are constant - is that he is incapable of admitting mistakes. So he turns up the volume and/or blatantly lies.
There is no issue that he genuinely cares about. Even the "wall" is just an example of his pathetic stubbornness. He doesn't care if there is a wall. He only cares that retreating from that declaration would make him look weak.
Trump was never good at anything. He is considered a joke among real estate and construction people in NYC. I know, as I was acquainted with many of them. Everything he has ever done is a failure or a fraud. This is just the culmination of a truly empty career.
23
Good judge! There can be no wiggle room for something like this.
6
Michael Flynn needs new lawyers. To argue that the FBI tricked their client into lying was absurd. In effect, they apparently do not know ignorance of the law is no defense to the commission of a felony. If there was some kind of strategy behind their defense, it was certainly not one indicating that his lawyers ever graduated from law school.
2
Don’t stop reading about all of the Trump corruption. Our collective consciousness is needed to clean up this mess. Too many people routinely turn their backs on hate and greed and power grabs, because they are afraid. Instead, use your fear to fuel the resistance.
2
I certainly hope further investigation is made into trump's phony charity, and any taxes due are paid.
I wonder who will sentence trump, when his house of cards collapses?
4
While proponents of the President like to point out that a "sitting President cannot be indicted," to the best of my knowledge there are no protocols prohibiting the indictment of the President's family, foundation, company, etc.
4
On the rare occasion that Trump does utter a truth, it was either unintentional or, more likely, designed to mislead. The trait appears to be transmissible, both genetically and by close contact: Witness his offspring and his corral of personal lawyers. Flynn, despite a true war hero chestful of ribbons and medals was hardly immune, and he is but the most prominent (thus far) of a long and growing list of fellow conspirator/victims. (See: Sarah Sanders, Kellyanne Conway, Sean Spicer, his entire Cabinet [John Kelly included], Michael Cohen, Anthony Scaramucci... The Comments character limit precludes any attempt to compile a complete, exhaustive enumeration.)
And so we approach the Christmas holiday season, the government on the verge of closing its checkbook, locking the doors, sending its "co-equal" cohort of elected legislators (who perform that job in fits and starts at best) home to their states and districts where they will try their damndest to avoid serious discussion with (and, if possible, even being seen by) the folks who pay their salaries.
But, speaking of fits and starts, the judicial branch plugs along, bringing charges here, obtaining confessions there, inflicting one after another of the thousand cuts that might, some day, bring the Trumpmonster to its final breath.
Not this one but, with luck, and if there is truly any justice, next Christmas will be the best one America has ever had. Ever.
1
When will impeachment be on the table? How much longer can the United States be sullied by this petty crook? Trump can no longer use the excuse that all of this criminality took place before he became president.
2
Donald Trump is incapable of telling the truth. It's true. People don't know that.
2
"In Washington, a federal judge let a former top presidential aide know that you can parrot political spin or you can tell the truth, but you can’t do both to someone who can send you to prison.". How did his lawyers let him prevaricate like this, or submit this sort of nonsense on his behalf?
People have believed Trump and his spinners for so long they thought they could get away with anything! Flynn at least had his neck in the noose, but for his lawyers I have nothing but absolute contempt.
1
Those who continue to support Trump have absolutely no integrity or moral standing from this point forward. Willful ignorance and enabling is the kindest characterization that can be said of anyone who continues to do so.
5
And yet, Evangelicals still worship Trump, pray for him every Sunday, and increasingly Evangelicals are praying TO Trump.
What is wrong with these people?
Go to Texas and visit a Dallas megachurch on a Sunday, you can see something truly horrifying.
4
The judge in Michael Flynn's sentencing case yesterday should have brought all of us up short and put things in true perspective. Flynn by definition can't be a traitor but he certainly betrayed this country with his dishonesty and apparent loyalty to other nations. He should go to jail. How long will it be before the New York Times Editorial Board has the integrity and courage to call for Donald Trump's resignation from the presidency? Evidence of his criminal behavior and illegitimacy are becoming overwhelming. How long before this editorial board has the integrity to call out the Republicans not only for their total support of Trump's criminality and illegitimacy but their own complicity in Russia's influence campaign? If media with large audiences and big megaphones don't begin this demand for Trump's resignation, he may well hold office for eight years with undying GOP support for whatever he chooses to do or say. What will be left? Not much of the America that existed before January 2017. Enough with the Trumpian Spin. What nonsense.
5
Can we the people not see a fraudulent presidency here? Time for resignation. We must insist.
2
Donald Trump doesn't know how to tell the truth. It's simply not in his DNA. We need to correct this serious mistake in the White House and run him and his equally dishonest family out of Washington post haste. It's time.
2
I agree that what Judge Sullivan said to Flynn yesterday was heartening. But, I do not think that the wisdom and courage of one judge can save the republic on his own especially when there are a sea of people in black robes who have been content to do nothing as the felon called DJT runs amok. Sadly, the number of such jurists is increasing owing to McConnell. We are still at the precipice of the cliff and it is unclear whether there is enough collective wisdom and courage to pull us back from the brink.
2
The election of Trump represented the epitome of an idiotic hiring system. Before hiring, most organizations have fitness exams, legal background checks, experience is required, and reference checks.
Not so for the president of the United States. Any con man with a good “gift of gab” and money can become the most powerful man on Planet Earth.
Unfortunately, that same idiotic system elects congressmen.
Pilots must have extensive training, demonstrate proficiency and have multiple ratings before hiring. Doctors must submit to a “test of competence”. Hairdressers take Red Seal Exams, but nothing is required for president or congress. Even a suspected pedophile like Roy Moore can be elected.
This ridiculous system will not improve because the people in charge of changing it are the beneficiaries of this madness.
Little wonder America is falling behind China in so many ways.
3
If 45 and /or family are found guilty, can they be caused to pay for the entire investigation?
1
I truly wanted to see Trump in court agreeing that his charity wasn't a charity and the cameras rolling to show his face when the judge decided he needs to dismantle said fraudulent means of using other people's money for his own personal wants. As for Trump learning from Flynn's situation that telling the truth is better - pigs will fly first. You know, Trump was warned time and again to stay far away from Flynn. They all were. And yet they refused to listen, even shrugging their shoulders as if to say, so what? His whole admin should be in jail for being traitors.
2
Where there's smoke, there's generally fire. In this case, Judge Sullivan not only smelled smoke, but he smelled a rat, to borrow Don Vito Trump's colorful rhetoric.
How refreshing to find a member of the GOP establishment who can see through and is willing to call it what it is: the smog-like exhaust of a burning administration with no respect for the rule of law.
2
If the Executive Branch were a publicly traded company, the board would convened immediately to oust the CEO. It's time for a vote of no confidence from the Board
2
America has the right to see Trump’s tax returns for at least the last 5 years....what is he hiding? Speculation is easy but we want the truth.
2
I've held my head in shame for our Country since 11/6. 2016. We New Yorkers knew Trump would be a disaster for the Country. No matter how hard we fought against him to educate the rest of the Country about this potential election mistake, his marketing campaign worked by our system of electoral geographical distribution. He has been a consistent liar throughout his life. The endless drama and daily lies do not come as a surprise to us, the people who know him best. Yesterday was just another example of Trump lies and spin and even after the Judge completely shredded his spin, the White House did not reverse their position covering for Trump's lie. Congress, do your duty, it is time to bring this black stain on our reputation as a Country to a political end. It is time for hearings leading to a swift impeachment and removal from office. I would rather see Mike Pence as a lame duck president for the next 2 years than continue on with the boy who cried wolf.
6
And this is a guy who was yelling "Lock her up" from the podium at the 2016 GOP convention? Talk about irony and hypocrisy! And this criminal ascended to a Lt. General of our armed forces and a National Security Advisor to the White House. How is this anything other than utterly shameful, and a sign how fast our democracy and Republic are being betrayed at every step this administration seems to take.
2
Thank you to both Judge Emmet Sullivan and Barbara Underwood for the slap in the face they gave to trump. Judge Sullivan also gave a good one to Michael Flynn. trump supporters hopefully heard some truth finally.
2
This situation is absolutely insane. Right-wingers are still defending Flynn. Trump is still allowed to call himself President.
3
Was Flynn the guy who pitched to the Russians the "support Trump with social media and money, and we will lift the sanctions" deal? In other words, Colluder Number 1. It would appear so. Trump went to the mat with James Comey over Flynn. Trump is making all kinds of Twitter nice re: Flynn. Trump says "stay strong."
Which all adds up to the fact that Trump is scared to death of him.
4
Question: Are there any American patriots left in the GOP?
Answer: None in the United States Senate...And maybe none in the entire party.
3
What is most disturbing to me is the fact that almost half of this country still backs Trump and thinks he’s doing a great job. Really, folks? Our country should be run by a bunch of criminals and traitors, liars, cheaters, people who are only out to see how much money and power they can get for themselves? Not my idea of “land of the free.”
2
“Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is difficult.” Proverbs 13:15
Donald and his pack of thieves are approaching judgement day. Do they realize it yet? What happened yesterday with Flynn was a Clarion call to all the Trump enthusiasts: It’s time to pay the fiddler.
2
"It's in my nature," said the scorpion to the frog. Trump's favorite parable, and he's very transparently referring to himself.
1
Sad the moral fiber of people populating the White House is dragging down the moral stature of the USA as a leader of the free world!
This ethical and moral erosion must be addressed for the future of that great nation.
1
When you think of Tar-and-Feathers it's important to remember that the tar is hot. Very hot.
2
This Judge said what needed to be said to General Flynn. Thank you sir.
3
they have been lying to the low information voters for so long that have forgotten that the rest of us are not fooled.
4
These investigations and Judge Sullivan's response give me hope.
2
Some very tough realizations about being President for Donald J. Trump
1. Being President is not Being King
2. Even the big boss has a boss; there’s reasons for these checks and balances
3. You can’t get away with robbing the people for whom you work
4. The IRS means business
2
Weather forecast for Mara Lago calls for rain for tonight, tomorrow and Friday. I forecast nasty Trump tweets about Federal judges.
2
I just hope what happens to Trump and his band of nasties is so awful it scares most of the other criminals back into their holes, and stiffens the resolve of all the prosecutors who have been asleep on the job!
2
The exposure and unraveling of Trump’s Byzantine business empire will goad him more than being deposed. It’s as if an inept Tony Soprano somehow found himself in the White House and might now be having second thoughts.
1
Let me get this straight! Commit a crime, make a lot of money in the process, lie to FBI and then get caught. By telling the authorities how you did it , you get no jail time, 6 months at most, keep all the money you made illegally and then go to Fox News with in a year and make more money as a commentator. In the process be a hero to the conservatives. So where is the punishment. Where is the deterrence to keep the other crooks like him committing the same crimes. What am I missing?
2
i wonder what's going on behind the scenes that we don't know about. Is a message being sent? Shut this down or we will go after you AND your kids. Is someone trying to get to him and send him a message that he should resign or we will increase pressure on your children? is the SDNY in it with Mueller? or have the Russians provided info to topple Trump because they feel they're not getting their monies worth?
1
The man and his children are crooks who cannot be trusted around money earmarked for charitable causes, because they have demonstrated they might well just pilfer it for personal use.
But millions of American voters were crazy enough to give these same crooks ready access to the United States Treasury.
Brilliant.
2
In the words of the judge, you betrayed your country. He should be punished appropriately and severely, no matter what the silly prosecutors recommend. This is about a General who served his country until he betrayed it. There is no excuse and no level of cooperation that should forgive him for what he has plead guilty. These are crimes the General committed not Trump.
If the president has committed the "new" crime of collusion, punish him.
If the FBI and DOJ have misled any court or judge, punish them.
If the FBI or any of its employees or directors leaked classified information, punish them.
Clean up this mess.
194
@Matt The crime, among so very many committed by Trump, is not "collusion". It is "conspiracy" to defraud the United States. Your talking points are stale and played.
36
@Matt
Agreed. Thank you.
3
@Matt
And if the President has committed the "old" crime of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Government, punish him.
And if the President has committed the "old" crime of violation of federal election campaign reporting laws, punish him.
And if the President... well, no need to keep going... we might be here all day.
58
Retired Lt. Gen. Flynn was a smug and greedy man until yesterday. I am glad that the judge confronted Flynn and his lawyers about their sentencing memo in which they seemed to blame others for all their failures.
I am glad that Flynn had to publicly state his guilt and at the least state his contrition and responsibility. The anti-democratic drone of Fox Faux News conspiracy attacking justice was well coordinated with Trump's tweets but in the end did not 'work'.
Flynn and Manafort continue to try to manipulate and lie. Either they are telling ALL or not. The rule of law in America is not having what these two are trying to sell.
Trump will do the exact same thing. He will change the lie for as long as he can to game the system. Let's hope he fails too.
1
Trump's MO is this: he thinks of what/how he wants truth to be, doesn't matter if it's a lie, then his mind automatically shifts to believing it as truth as his mind has been conditioned to do for decades, because he then becomes very convincing to the vulnerable, or to those who also want to believe what he is saying.
His words are heartfelt because he has made them truth in his mind, and he has learned over the years that his method works much of the time - have you ever tried arguing with someone who denies the truth without a shred of proof to back it up? Impossible to win, because they will keep denying your truth. In normal circumstances, one would give up and avoid that person. But that MO took him all the way to the Presidency (with or without outside help)! It cannot be avoided any longer, and must be addressed in the courts to prove that Trump is a liar through and through. Time for him to be called out for ALL of his lies once and for all!
2
It's rather striking that a former military man would have not owned up to his crimes. General Flynn's craven and sleazy "the FBI made me do it" defense is in such stark contrast to the tragic outcome due to shame, of another high profile military man. Admiral Jeffrey Michael Boorda, former member of the Joint Chiefs, committed suicide in 1996 when it was revealed he may have been wearing a Vietnam service medal he had not really earned. Despite a wonderful record of service he could not bear the shame and he ended his life. I do not suggest that General Flynn's lies should have led him to the same end, but I do wonder if he needs to review the military code of honor which reads as follows: " Of all the Army values, honor is the one that embodies all the others. Honor is a matter of carrying out, acting, and living the values of respect, duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity and personal courage in everything you do, according to the Army." Flynn owes all of us an apology.
3
Re the Trump Foundation, I assume that (in addition to the penalties agreed in the settlement with the NY State Attorney General) The Trump Organization and members of the Trump family face fines, penalties, and interest for fraudulent income tax filings that claimed deductions for contributions to the Foundation.
4
Judge Sullivan used the facts and the law to lance the bubble of conspiracy that a General Flynn has been enveloped in for at least the last decade. General Flynn was not the victim of an ambush by the deep state as he and his supporters would have the world believe. General Flynn, as a private citizen, interfered US foreign policy at the highest levels for nefarious purposes and lied to the FBI about it, among other offenses. Where is the outrage? The GOP of yore would have had him drawn and quartered.
As he drifted further and further from mainstream views, Flynn was cautioned by long time mentors including General McChrystal and Admiral Mullen to “tone it down.” But he failed to heed their advice and moved into more outlandish realms like the Comet Pizza pedophilia hoax. And despite being completely out there, he achieved the pinnacle of his career with Trump. For 24 days.
I admire Judge Sullivan for taking care to repeatedly and forcefully establish the record: did Flynn know it was a felony to lie to FBI agents, did he lie, was he guilty, was he mistreated, did he want to waithdraw his plea, did he need more time, etc? Sullivan methodically punctured the balloon of nuttiness. We’ll see if Flynn can manage to hew to the facts for the next six months.
As for Donald, all New Yorkers could have told you he wasn’t fit to walk the dog, let alone run a company or country.
655
@NJLatelifemom And we should remember that Judge Sullivan can see what is redacted in the Flynn filings. I am hoping that during the transition, when Flynn is sitting in National Security briefings for the candidate he supported, that none of that briefing migrated to Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, or anyone else. He was clearly someone who liked to make money and if his information could be bought, we have much bigger problems than lies to the FBI.
30
@NJLatelifemom As for Donald, all New Jerseyians from the Atlantic City Casino region could have told you he wasn’t fit to walk the dog, let alone run a company or country.
34
@NJLatelifemom
Yes. The word on Trump's lack of character was clearly out there, from the news reporters, the other candidates, the true author of The Art of the Deal, contractors in Atlantic City, to name only a few. They had his number. The question is, why did so many choose to ignore this truth and instead vote for the show? And once in office, when again and again he lied and disrespected the rule of law, why didn't they wake up to the truth? Where was their general outcry and outrage? Enough with the media sending out Trump and Huckabee lies unchallenged. Thanks go to MSNBC for ending that free ride this week, and for the New York Courts, intent on upholding the law. How refreshing reality can be!
31
Let’s speak another Truth: The GOP is shrinking in size. The Trumpian Spin has hold of a smaller and smaller group.
Every time someone reports what percentage of the GOP approves of Trump, it should also be reported what percentage of the voting population now admits to GOP adherence.
The Majority of Voters overwhelmingly do NOT approve of Trump and do not believe his lies. The White House is spinning and spinning to smaller and smaller numbers.
Please, Free Press, drive home - over and over - that Truth.
7
@TheraP: Trump's Republican Party is just another RICO to me.
1
What seems to have taken a back seat to the Mike Flynn story, is the pending dissolution of the Trump Foundation.
I suggest that citizens take a few moments to read the court’s ruling. The language used is severe and damning. It all but accused members of the Trump family and the President of being criminals in this regard. The usual m.o. for Trump would be to fight back, etc., yet, the family has agreed to a court supervised dissolution of the Foundation.
Think about that...the president of the United States and members of his family have told , in essence, that they are criminals.
How can any reasonable person continue to support this guy?
5
The federal judge did an excellent job but Flynn was trying to get a probated sentence without admitting his guilt or by blaming the prosecutors with deception. Ironic justice would have been better served if the judge had refused to accept the plea and sent the case to trial. Flynn could then have dealt with the possibility of a long prison sentence. Then there is the personal and political use by Trump of the funds in his so-called charitable organization. That had to violate some law or the other but Trump will probably skate once more.
1
Good news for the former presidents who were on the bottom of the best presidents list. Everyone moves up one rung.
11
@David Hauschild You really made me laugh out loud. Thank you!
1
It is a great loss that in less than two weeks New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood will no longer hold office. In her very short tenure, Attorney General Underwood has been remarkably effective and has now taken down the Trump Foundation. It surprises none of us in the legal community.
If Attorney General Underwood found a "shocking pattern of illegality," and that the Trump Foundation was nothing but "a checkbook to serve Mr. Trump's business and political interests," her determination is unassailable. Attorney General Underwood's sole interest is upholding the rule of law. She treats all equally under the law, no matter what their political persuasion or political office.
After graduating Law School, Ms. Underwood clerked for both legendary Chief Judge David L. Bazelon of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, as well as legendary Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Ms. Underwood went on to become a career prosecutor, and a brilliant law professor. She was the first woman to act as Solicitor General of the United States. She is everything a public servant should be.
The only reason Barbra Underwood is being replaced is that she eschews politics. Not long ago, one would expect anyone entrusted with upholding either US or state laws to hold themselves apart from politics. Today, the acting head of the DOJ is not only a corrupt partisan political hack, he's Trump's cudgel. Everything Barbara Underwood embodies is under attack.
9
When I was in training in a pediatric hospital, I worked with a psychologist who frequently reminded me about dysfunctional families, saying "the truth belongs to them". This is what we have. A family that believes it's own lies and is struggling learn that we don't.
12
It is difficult to comprehend the voices that say General Flynn was a good and courageous man who made a bad choice. He made a series of bad choices which leads this observer to hazard a guess that lying has been more a part of his life's work than the truth. Why are any of us to believe his thirty-three years of service were not characterized by more of the same?
17
@Gerry
The more little squibs I hear about General Flynn's career in intelligence in the age of Abu Ghraib, the more he seems to be the recipient of a lot of quick get-this-guy-outta-here promotions.
The press might be doing us all a service if it told us more about the General's past.
1
I have found myself tongue-tied because I don't think there is a word in the English language that captures the significance of having a person in the position of National Security Advisor who is peddling influence over US actions and policies to other countries who have him on the payroll. Actually, I did find a word: I think it would make Flynn a very top level spy. Perhaps legally that is incorrect, but it does seem like language is being made to tip-toe around the essence of the issue here. IWe are seeing how Trump put Pruitt in office to sell out the EPA, and there are numerous other instances of putting people in high office specifically to sell out its mandate. I can't help but think that having another country's paid political operative in the National Security office is inimical to national security. It is a powerful affront to one's sense of justice to think of people who assisted Flynn maybe going to prison, while Flynn goes free. With the other law cases you have mentioned regarding other people, this looks like a nest of white collar crime in control of the White House, frankly.
1137
@Anne Sherrod
As the Espionage Act of 1917 has been turned against public-spirited citizens like Edward Snowden, Thomas Drake, Chelsea (Bradley) Manning, Jeffrey Sterling, and John Kiriakou, to name a few, I think you can call Flynn a spy.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espionage_Act_of_1917#21st_century
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@Anne Sherrod As I read your comment it became clearer to me to understand the wider picture of what's happened in the US - that while Trump was installing individuals such as Pruitt, de Vos, Zinke, et al., it was likely at the advise of Steve Bannon and his flock. I believe Trump is a smart individual and knows how to manipulate individuals, but I question whether he understands how the political system really works -- he got played by Bannon, and while Trump's on the hot seat, Bannon is running around building his support for America after Trump. I wonder when Bannon's gig is up -- or will it be?
22
@Anne Sherrod
“SPY” - You’ve put your finger on it. And his name is Trump!
The Chief Spy is the “commander in chief” - and our national secrets are no longer safe.
I look forward to the dressing down some Judge - or maybe a panel of Judges - addressing the heinous actions of the ‘resident - a man so vile that the word “president” is dishonored so long as the ‘resident sits in the White House, a place he dishonors daily,
37
I almost (but not quite) absolve trump of blame for what he has done to our political and governmental institutions. He can't help being who he is, and maybe he is just too stupid to understand that government is not his, to run like his business. No, the major blame lies elsewhere.
His track record in a lifetime of business dealings is littered with fraud and bad faith.
I partly blame the people who voted for him, though many didn't know (or didn't want to know) a fraction of the truth.
I largely blame the media for paving his way to the White House by treating him as a celebrity to be covered 24/7, while burying most of his career long history that was known to journalists like David Cay Johnston. trump the presidential candidate was the same trump who stepped all over his adversaries in business dealings, and the media knew it.
But most of all, I blame our current crisis on Republicans in Congress who, much as many vilified trump before he came to power, purposefully swallowed all their reservations; they see no evil as long as they calculate that he advances their ideological agenda. They put party over nation. They were punished for it in the House last month. But, as if in a trance, they continue to prop up him up and still put party over nation.
Let's finish the job in 2020.
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mancuroc,
I agree with your assessment of all the farcical players in the comedy, Donald J. Chaos & Co. Though I would not absolve Trump at all. He is all about his twisted blame game. He is an evil spin doctor and prescribes many snake oil nostrums for our country's many ills. The media certainly hurt our country with a reactionary approach to reporting on the ever-bombastic Trump. The lack of editing was catastrophic. The harping on an already closed email server investigation being just one of many. I pray that they correct their approach soon. Our country needs facts, not bloviated opinion and lies. No too long ago, the Nyt ran an article soliciting approaches to dull or correct the fake news in our mediasphere without resorting to censorship. I suggested that any lies and spin they report be labeled clearly. "The 2016 inaugural gathering was the biggest ever" (Factually incorrect) or (LIE). People reporting and editing the news should know whether a fact is correct or not. They should know the difference between a fact and an opinion. If they don't, they should find another line of work. Their shoveling out raw reporting is a disservice to their readers and our country. No Fake news! Leave that to the propaganda acolytes like Fox and friends.
71
@mancuroc: The trouble with blaming the media is that there is no such thing as "the" media--there are many differing and largely independent sources of information, misinformation, opinion, commentary, propaganda, analysis, and deception. And that now includes social media in addition to the more traditional forms. Whatever the responsible media might have done differently during the 2016 campaign, it would have made no difference to those supporters of Donald Trump who were not paying attention to it in the first place.
I don't cut Trump any slack simply because it's in his nature to be a deceptive and greedy person--people like that fully deserve to be punished for their misdeeds. But I agree that Trump's election and administration are the result of much larger forces.
I agree also that the Republicans in Congress now deserve the lion's share of the blame for what has been done to the country through the Trump administration. But in that you can hardly separate them.
50
@mancuroc
By “the media” do you mean bad journalists on both sides? If so, a false equivalence. Even if both Fox and MSNBC covered Trump excessively (for good ratings undoubtedly), your comment ignores the question of HOW each covered him. News v. Propaganda.
36
Through all this, I am amazed that we consider the most severe possible penalty to be a 6 month jail sentence. The poor have spent this long in jail waiting for a trial. Good. Lord.
1989
@PJM
Well said and almost surreal. I only hope he has shared much damaging information on as many people as possible in this corrupt, organized crime family. Once they are held accountable for their misdeeds, I may feel differently about Flynn getting off without due punishment.
48
@PJM
Thank you. There are people (mostly minorities) who have spent more time in prison for possessing a gram of marijuana.
52
@PJM That's the penalty for what he was charged with. Seems pretty clear he could have been charged with various other crimes and his son as well.
These other charges weren't filed because he cooperated. This is how criminal organizations are rolled up by law enforcement, hopefully ending with the boss being sent away for a very long tome.
10
Many thanks to the judge for expressing our communal exasperation over the extremely lenient treatment of a man who has betrayed our country. He asked Flynn repeatedly if he fully acknowledged his guilt, to which Flynn replied "yes". He asked point blank if he felt he had been set up by the FBI, or denied counsel, and he said "no". So much for Trump's games. Personally, I think Flynn should be looking at life in prison, or at least 10-20 years, given his cooperation. He should also have to pay America back the $600,000 he accepted from Turkey. Flynn is not even being charged for many of his crimes. Yes, he has a distinguished military record, but that shouldn't give him a get out of jail free card, even though it does feel like the president and his henchmen are playing monopoly rather than serving our country. In addition, even though the special counsel can only go after charges it knows it can deliver on, some legal body should go after Flynn for treason. That he is a general makes it that much more sickening. I don't understand why he isn't at the very lest being stripped of his rank and forced to pay out the money he accepted from Turkey to a charity for veterans.
27
The recent events you describe here, especially Judge Sullivan’s admonitions yesterday, debunk yet another of Trump’s Faux News myths and conspiracy theories. As Chief Justice Roberts said not long ago, “We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges or Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those that appear before them”. Judge Sullivan personified that assertion, as well as the true meaning of the American flag in the courtroom next to him.
It should also be lost on no one that, based on the New York Attorney General’s ruling on Trump’s “charity” shenanigans, neither he nor his children can serve on the board of a non-profit or so-called charity in the state. Think about it. They are banned from heading, and deemed unqualified to head, another such organization, but they are permitted to preside over the most powerful nation in the world.
22
@Steve Griffith, the New York AG is seeking a ban on them serving on any charity board. She doesn't get to make the ultimate decision, and it has not been adjudicated at this point.
The genius of the Founding Fathers is saving our republic. When I was in grade school and learned about the three coequal branches of government, I thought having three was a bit of overkill. Two should be enough, I thought. Now I see their wisdom.
We have a totally corrupt and incompetent executive branch. For two years now, we have had an equally corrupt legislative branch because they let the corrupt executive do whatever he wants. But we always had the courts. They are serving as a failsafe. They are rescuing us from ourselves, well at least from the people that voted for that guy.
Trump is incapable of telling the truth. In a sense, he can't really lie because he never tells the truth about anything. His entire life has been a lie, a scam, a shakedown. His lies are his truth.
Trump has surrounded himself with convicted felons and others soon to be brought to trial. He talks like a gangster. Take the word "president" out of the news reports and you would swear you were reading about the takedown of an organized crime syndicate. Sure looks that way to me.
1692
@Bruce Rozenblit
Look at the judges being elevated by the GOP. This branch of government is also on its way down the tubes.
250
@Bruce Rozenblit
I would add the 4th branch.
41
@Bruce Rozenblit
I'm not exactly certain about the courts since t-Rump and the GOP have been flooding the judgeships with lawyers who aren't even certified by the lawyers themselves.
149
It was refreshing and heartening to hear what Judge Sullivan had to say to Michael Flynn. In this era of rampant dishonesty and disrespect for America and its values, I was so glad to hear the reckoning Flynn faced in court today. I truly hope it has a ripple effect. And I hope the Trump dynasty is brought down hard and fast and America is restored to sanity and integrity once again. That’s the America I love. I feel as though I have been living in a foreign, hostile country for two years.
2172
@Truthiness
"... America is restored to sanity and integrity once again"
Sorry to say, but I doubt it. What are we going to do with the complete Republican party, the enablers? They were in a position to stop this madness, at any time. Yet, they decide to exploit it, all the time.
Do we need something like a de-Republicanization?
289
@Truthiness: I'm hoping for a more immediate "ripple effect" after what happened yesterday in Judge Sullivan's court.
The purpose of the Flynn team's attack on the FBI seems clear to me: they're bucking for a pardon. Trump's friendly, well-wishing Tweet yesterday morning further aroused suspicions. What has been going on behind the scenes between Flynn's lawyers and the White House? Something illegal and/or unethical? It wouldn't be surprising.
For the next few months, as Flynn awaits sentencing, Mueller's prosecutors should hold his feet to the fire.
If Flynn wants a light sentence, he needs to earn it by revealing hard-core truths that show his penitence is sincere. His recent propaganda antics, which pandered shamefully to Trump, Trump's apologists and the Republican FBI-bashers, were a betrayal of the legal process and the American people.
I think "lock him up" is what Flynn deserves. I don't know what information he gave Mueller, so I don't know its value. But it's obvious from the recent developments Judge Kennedy called him out for that Flynn can't be trusted.
107
@Richard It appears that the Republicans are fragmenting themselves. Trump has taken over the party's base, which is shrinking rapidly, and traditional Republicans are scrambling. It may not mean the complete destruction of the GOP. but at some point the party will turn on Trump for self-preservation -- the one thing that may prompt Senate Republicans to show a spine.
55
Perhaps it's just as well that the Big T is continually forced to concern himself with such matters, as it prevents him from coming up with further hare-brained schemes such as building a border wall with Canada or laying minefields in the Atlantic (can anyone be sure he has never considered such plans?)
A jail term would give the president a chance to reflect on the error of his ways, and inside he could meet up with some of his old cronies and mull over the good old days when nobody, not even the IRS, bothered themselves with his antics - the times when he seemed indeed to be above the law.
20
@Bill George,
Are you kidding? Mr T will gave a great time in a country club prison playing poker with Bernie Madoff and Joel Steinberg and eventually L Chapo. This time the cigarettes used as poker chips will represent millions to these high rolling felons. The fellow cons will worship Trump and he will have more fun in confinement than his golf club!
Flynn, Manafort, and Cohen have proven to be sleazy political liars. It scares me to think that, were it not for Mr. Mueller, they would have gotten away with it. How many more operatives are out there, of any party or persuasion, working around or stepping over the boundaries of the law? How would we find out?
30
@Ken L not just Mueller but citizens who have not let up and who have kept their eye on the ball “our government is of law not of men”.
5
Another interesting aspect of the courtroom drama yesterday was that the prosecution admitted that Flynn could have been named as a co-conspirator in the case that they filed on Monday charging two business associates of his (Bijan Kian and Kamil Ekim Alptekin) with acting as agents of the Turkish government in the fall of 2016.
Sullivan credibly asked why this was not being included in the charges against Flynn, and he probably delayed sentencing partly on that account.
To this day, it is unexplained why Trump specifically asked Comey to let this case against "good guy" Flynn go. Perhaps that also affected Sullivan's decision. And Trump's "good luck" tweet yesterday only added to the mystery.
Nevertheless, the apple cart was upset for both sides during the sentencing hearing. Flynn didn't get what he assumed was already determined, and the Mueller team was directed to use Flynn for additional information in its investigation.
In that sense, only time will tell if Judge Sullivan's decision (and righteous outrage) will ultimately work to the benefit of the nation.
17
Donald J. Trump is consumed with greatness, bigness, the most, the finest, the bigglyest.
What some of us have suspected: that the entire Trump Organization enterprise will go down as one of the greatest, biggest, mostest and anything but finest corrupt business empires in history. At least in recent history.
And thereby hangs a tale of the Emperor whose wish for the greatest was honored with the mostest he deserved.
Doug Giebel, Big Sandy, Montana
18
Trump bamboozeled Flynn into thinking he (DT) had the best sliced bread ever. Flynn ate up all of DTs lies, hook line and sinker, and paid for it. Let’s see who is next. One hook at a time.
13
Still to be seen if "nobody is above the law". We need more days in court. A family who thinks that a charity foundation is their personal checkbook can easily think that the WH is a marketing tool to increase their personal wealth.
I do appreciate the "bit of common sense and common decency". The country is starving for those. By the way, the general, while listening to the judge, might have visualized himself directing the "lock her up" chants. A bit of poetic justice.
23
It's a sad day in America when politicians attempt to destroy our criminal justice systems, with the president approval along with some law enforcement officials. No one is above the law, because if we the people allow this to happen then we as humans has failed humanity and what this great country represents.
11
Remember the fact that Obama TOLD Trump not to hire Flynn. So, of course, Trump had to have him on the government payroll. Just look at the scofflaws and criminals and creeps that Trump has surrounded himself with. There isn’t a mentch among them. Trump has hideous judgement about people. His ample “gut” leads him in the direction of people like himself.
There is so much more yet to uncover and the wheels of justice turn so slowly. Every day, several new scandals are revealed. It would have been so much easier if the Republicans had done their due diligence at the beginning but they saw an opportunity to use Trump for their own ends. Now we get to see that the party of family values means the Trump families’ values. Sickening.
27
An excerpt from school textbooks, 20 years from now ...
"Donald J. Trump, known as "The Mafia President", was America's first incarcerated former President. Trump was driven from office by the countless criminal activities he perpetrated prior to and while in office. After he was convicted of a myriad of heinous crimes in NY and D.C., he served out the remainder of his life in prison."
The American justice system depends on the notion that no one is above the law. Putting Trump and his criminal cadre behind bars is essential to protecting our democracy.
39
@Sarah - from your mouth to God’s ear. May they all live out their lives in infamy. I hope I’m alive to see it. The stress and fury we have endured for these past years would be aliviated if he was finally punished for his decades of criminality.
2
All of the spinning, lies, exaggeration, boasting, ego, and deplorable actions of this president and those who back him at any cost are finally meeting their match, and it's called the justice system. For almost 2 years we have worked our way towards this inevitability and it is turning the tide. Trump and the spineless cowards of the Republican party are running out of time. It's the beginning of the end for them and a handful see the writing on the wall. For those who do they are not running for re-election. For the most gullible who believe they can work around this train wreck, they too will see that justice has a way of finding a method of winning in the end. All of the con artists who surround Trump have run out of lives and likes of Stone and hopefully Miller will find themselves at a dead end from which there is no escape. I for one, cannot wait to see those who broke the law and flaunted it in our faces get some time in jail. Oh, happy days are near again!
16
We may rue the day Barbara Underwood did not include barron in the banned list. My paranoia extends to the possibility he is sitting on cash like his father was all his life to hide it from the IRS.
12
Bravo to Judge Sullivan. A bright light shines through the ugly swamp.
13
"...acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign country, Turkey, while he was an adviser to Mr. Trump (to which he admitted but was not charged)..."
WHAT? Why is Flynn not being charged with being a foreign agent while working for the Trump administration. Doing it clandestinely, illegally so, makes it even worse.
Now it's okay to have foreign agents working in the White House, without any consequences for doing so?
11