Michael Flynn Changes His Story, Putting Him on Collision Course With Judge

The New York Times ^ | July 9, 2019 | Adam Goldman

[Jack Black]

WASHINGTON — Michael T. Flynn, the former national security adviser, backed off his planned testimony in a federal case against a former associate, according to court documents unsealed on Tuesday.

Mr. Flynn had previously admitted that he lied on foreign lobbying disclosure forms submitted to the Justice Department but now is blaming his former lawyers, accusing them of filing inaccurate forms without his knowledge. He did not dispute that the filing itself contained false information.

His latest gambit could provoke another dramatic and risky confrontation with the federal judge who delayed sentencing Mr. Flynn last year in a separate case so he could continue to cooperate with the government in the hopes of a lighter punishment. And it was the latest strange turn in a prosecution that should have run its course without much drama after Mr. Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to investigators and agreed to cooperate with the special counsel’s investigators.

Mr. Flynn’s lawyers might not care what the judge does if t

[Jack Black]

The article goes on to speculate that this may be part of a play for a pardon by Flynn.

[ClearCase_guy]

Everything is different now. Whole new ballgame.

[Louis Foxwell]

The NYT, typically, plays fast and loose with the truth. The judge has been encouraging Flynn to dismantle his guilty plea and turn against the forces of evil that have tried to destroy him. This is a significant step in that direction.

[ironman]

Flynn hires lawyers who understand these complicated things and expects them to fill the forms out correctly. That’s why they get paid. If they screw up it’s on them.

[Jack Black]

My theory is that his new attorney is working to have the plea bargain thrown out, and the charges dismissed by the judge.

To do that there has to be some explanation of why, then, he previously pleaded guilty. And, on close inspection he pleaded guilty to two separate crimes:

1. Lying to the FBI about his conversation with the Russian ambassador. and
2. False filings on his FARA (Foreign Agent Registration Act) forms.

   Flynn, on his own, could withdraw from his plea bargain, but then would have to go to trial, where his previous admissions of guilt would be allowed into evidence.

   On the other hand, if he can get the Judge to dismiss the charges for procedural reasons he ends the affair with no conviction, and no need for a pardon.

   I believe the argument on the first charge is: "The FBI failed to provide exculpatory evidence, so we pleaded guilty without knowing they had proof Flynn didn't lie.

   The judge might buy that, he's famous for hating Federal Prosecutors witholding evidence, something he has dealt with in two high-profile cases - the trial of Sen. Stevens of Alaska and various Judicial Watch FOIA litigations against the IRS.

   In the Stephens case the witholding was so severe when he learned of it he overturned the conviction he had overseen, and referred the prosecutors to the DOJ for investigation.

   Assuming he could convince Sullivan that the "Lying to the FBI charge" is all based on FBI and Prosecutors misrepresenting things and hiding evidence of his innocence, there is still the Turkey lobbying issue that would have to "go away" for Judge Sullivan to toss the entire case.

   That's what I think this is the start of a play to do, with the argument going something like:

   I was misrepresented by previous council, who did not clearly explain the importance of willful misrepresentation (which this was not) with merely having my lawyers mis-state things on forms (which happened).

[Eleutheria5]

Not testifying against a former associate puts him on a collision course with the prosecutor.

[Vaquero]

Of course they want me to subscribe to the NY Slimes to read the whole article. No thanks

[Alberta's Child]

I admit I don’t know all the nuances of the law and the details of these cases, but from what I’ve seen it looks like all of Flynn’s lawyers have one thing in common: they’ve all been representing a client who is a moron.

[Parley Baer]

“The NYT, typically, plays fast and loose with the truth.”

Just what I was thinking.

[Nifster]

Flynn didn’t change his story the feds did. Sydney Powell has em dead to rights

[M. Thatcher]

Flynn didn’t change his story the feds did. Sydney Powell has em dead to rights

Precisely.

[M. Thatcher]

Flynn didn’t change his story the feds did. Sydney Powell has em dead to rights

Precisely.

[rlmorel]

Exactly.

Sidney Powell apparently is no slouch, not afraid of federal judges because she knows the law, and isn’t going to back down in what is an unjust, political prosecution in an attempt by a cabal to take down a sitting duly elected President.

She is taking a new tack. Flynn should have gotten himself a better lawyer when this all began. He has the truth on his side.

On top of that, I hope there is indeed a pardon in his future REGARDLESS of anything else.

[Nifster]

“Sidney Powell was a federal prosecutor in three districts under nine U.S. Attorneys from both political parties, then in private practice for more than 20 years”

Read Licensed to Lie as well as Her recent columns. She’s on top of the corruption. And yes she knows the law

[StAnDeliver]

Two words: Tony Podesta

[rlmorel]

Thanks, Nifster...will do. Always on the lookout for a new book!

[kabar]

Sydney Powell effect. Flynn was railroaded by Strzok and Weissmann. Now that the Mueller report is out, it is a whole new ballgame. And Barr is running DOJ.

[ETL]

Whatever his reasons were, life-long DEMOCRAT, Obama-appointee, Michael Flynn, was an absolute scumbag idiot for cozying up to the Russians by way of being a regular guest on their state-run "news"(propaganda) outlet Russia Today (RT). And by accepting an invitation to attend and sit directly alongside KGB Putin at their big anniversary gala.

I suspect he was planted into the Trump campaign in order to make it appear as if team Trump was in-cahoots with the Russians. Meanwhile, the reality was/is that it was the DEMOCRATS who were actually colluding with the Russians!

_______________________________________

February 14, 2017
White House Daily Briefing

“The issue here was that the President got to the point where General Flynn’s relationship — misleading the Vice President and others, or the possibility that he had forgotten critical details of this important conversation had created a critical mass and an unsustainable situation.

That’s why the President decided to ask for his resignation, and he got it.

The irony of this entire situation is that the President has been incredibly tough on Russia.

He continues to raise the issue of Crimea, which the previous [Obama-Biden-Hillary] administration had allowed to be seized by Russia.”

https://www.c-span.org/video/?424005-1/sean-spicer-president-asked-michael-flynn-resign-eroded-trust

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[Qiviut]

Sidney Powell is working on righting the Flynn ship that was listing badly & taking on water before she got on the scene.

[bitt]

P