Archiv: Michael Flynn


26.11.2020 - 00:44 [ NBC News ]

Defense lawyers rail about unfair prosecutions. Flynn’s case shows why.

(09.05.2020)

Sometimes federal agents are criticized for „creating“ a crime instead of investigating one. Sting operations are examples of crimes that are a consequence of law enforcement actions. Agents create a fictional crime to trick a suspect into attempting to join that crime, thereby creating the crime.

Similarly, Flynn’s crime of lying to government agents was the consequence of the government agents‘ investigation of Flynn. If there was no crime before Flynn‘s interview, then there‘s little reason to interview Flynn as part of a criminal investigation, unless the agents were looking to create a crime.

26.11.2020 - 00:40 [ CNN ]

Trump announces pardon for Michael Flynn in tweet

President Donald Trump announced in a tweet Wednesday that he has granted his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, a „full pardon,“ wiping away the guilty plea of the intelligence official, lobbyist and conservative fringe darling for lying to the FBI.

23.11.2020 - 11:02 [ theHill.com ]

Giuliani distances Trump campaign from attorney Sidney Powell

The Trump campaign on Sunday sought to distance itself from attorney Sidney Powell after she made a series of increasingly convoluted and baseless allegations of widespread nationwide election fraud.

Powell, who also represents former national security adviser Michael Flynn, had appeared with campaign lawyers at press events as recently as last week.

11.07.2020 - 11:02 [ Politico.com ]

New documents show internal debate over whether to prosecute Flynn

The newly public documents include notes of a Jan. 25, 2017 meeting between FBI and DOJ officials in which Deputy Assistant Attorney General Tashina Gauhar included several passages indicating that the agents who interviewed Flynn about his dealings with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak saw no indication Flynn was trying to deceive them. Gauhar recounts that the agents thought Flynn was “being forthright” and “believe[d] that F. believe[d] that what he said was true.”

11.07.2020 - 11:01 [ Rep. Jim Jordan / Twitter ]

Comey’s FBI: -Believed Michael Flynn was telling the truth. -Knew Flynn wasn’t a Russian agent. But went after Flynn with a bogus perjury charge. Wow.

19.06.2020 - 12:00 [ i24news.tv ]

Report: Putin nixed Obama initiative to create Palestinian state within 1948 borders

In late 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin prevented former US President Barack Obama‘s attempt to pass a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution demanding Israel relinquish the West Bank territories captured in the 1967 Six-Day War and accept a two-state resolution based on 1948 borders, freshly declassified documents appear to show.

01.06.2020 - 22:52 [ The Hill ]

Top FBI lawyer resigns

An FBI spokesperson confirmed on Sunday that Dana Boente’s 38-year career in senior roles at the Justice Department will end on June 30, when his retirement goes into effect.

27.05.2020 - 20:46 [ Journal-News.net ]

Handling of Flynn case should concern all Americans

Regardless of our political leanings, what happened to Michael Flynn should concern every American. While we should insist on details about his case, a more important question needs to be answered:

How many other people have been treated similarly by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies?

27.05.2020 - 20:41 [ theGreggJarrett.com ]

Former CBS Reporter One Of The First ‘To Identify Myself As A Target of Illegal Spying Under Obama Admin’

“I believe many, many others were spied on but do not know” said Attkisson. “It was only thanks to help from intelligence contacts that I even learned that government agents were spying me. Otherwise, I never suspected it or would have known.”

20.05.2020 - 15:12 [ Fox News ]

Johnson says declassified Rice email shows Obama officials ‚sabotaging the incoming administration‘

According to the email, then-FBI Director James Comey suggested to President Barack Obama in a Jan. 5, 2017 meeting that the National Security Council (NSC) might not want to pass „sensitive information related to Russia“ to Flynn, then Rice‘s designated successor.

The note was fully declassified by Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell and transmitted to the Justice Department. Fox News obtained a copy Tuesday from Johnson‘s office, which had sought access to the document.

16.05.2020 - 10:13 [ Radio Utopie ]

Geheimdienste-Ausschuss-Vorsitzender: U.S.-Dienste sammelten „versehentlich Informationen über U.S. Bürger im Trump Team“

(23.03.2017)

Am 12. März äußerte sich dann jemand, der Ahnung hat: Rand Paul. In der „CBS“-Sendung „Face the Nation“ rückte Rand Paul, unter vielem Hin und Her und Ach und jaa-nee, endlich mit der Sprache heraus (Links wurden hinzugefügt):

„Der Weg wie es funktioniert ist – das F.I.S.A.-Gericht, mittels Section 702 (Anm.: vom Patriot Act), hört Ausländer ab und hört dann Amerikanern zu. Es ist eine Durchleuchtung von Amerikanern durch die Hintertür. Und weil sie so viele Daten haben, können sie abhören — tippen sie Donald Trump in ihre gewaltigen Ressourcen (Anm.: Datenbanken) über Leute ein, die sie in Übersee abhören, und sie kriegen alle seine Telefonanrufe.

Und so haben sie das mit Präsident Obama gemacht. Sie — eintausendzweihundertsiebenundzwanzig Mal haben sie Präsident Obamas Telefonanrufe belauscht. Dann maskieren sie ihn (Anm.: anonymisieren seine Daten). Aber hier ist das Problem. Und General Hayden hat dies am anderen Tag gesagt. Er sagte, sogar niedere Angestellte können den Anrufer demaskieren (Anm.: die Daten wieder einer bestimmten Person zuordnen). Das ist vermutlich dass, was Flynn passiert ist.

Sie zielen nicht auf Amerikaner. Sie zielen auf Ausländer. Aber sie tun das absichtlich, um an Amerikaner heran zu kommen.“

16.05.2020 - 09:23 [ JustTheNews.com ]

Making of a myth: Timeline of media‘s role in selling ‚Trump-Russia collusion‘ tale

Nov. 18, 2016:

Trump announces Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as his choice for National Security Adviser. Over the next few weeks, Flynn communicates with numerous international leaders.

Nov. 30 – Dec. 28, 2016:

Two dozen Obama administration officials make requests to unmask the name of National Security Adviser designee Flynn, who was „incidentally“ captured by intel surveillance. The officials include: U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and CIA Director John Brennan.

Jan. 5, 2017:

Obama chief of staff Denis McDonough requests Flynn unmasking.

Intelligence Community leadership, including FBI Director James Comey, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, CIA Director Brennan and Director of National Intelligence Clapper, provides classified briefing to President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and National Security Adviser Susan Rice on alleged Russia hacking during 2016 campaign, according to notes later written by Rice.

After briefing, according to Rice’s notes, President Obama convenes Oval Office meeting with her, Comey, Biden, and Yates. The „Steele dossier“ is reportedly discussed. Also reportedly discussed: Flynn‘s intercepted talks with Russia‘s ambassador.

16.05.2020 - 08:37 [ The Hill / Youtube ]

Saagar Enjeti: BOMBSHELL reveals Biden at center of Obamagate, media ignores

Saagar blasts Joe Biden for being among the Obama administration officials who „unmasked“ former national security adviser Michael Flynn, despite his wavering stance on involvement in the prosecution.

15.05.2020 - 15:32 [ Fox News ]

Rand Paul on Flynn unmasking: Biden committed ‚devastating abuse of power‘

‚It amounts to illegally eavesdropping for political purposes‘ says Rand Paul discussing new information that Obama officials unmasked Michael Flynn

14.05.2020 - 23:17 [ Real Clear Politics ]

Rand Paul: „Vice President Biden Is Guilty Of Using Government To Go After A Political Opponent“

Sen. Rand Paul called for acting Director of National Intelligence Rick Grenell to testify about a list of Obama administration officials, including Obama and Biden, involved in the „unmasking“ of then-incoming National Security Adviser Michael Flynn‘s communications after the 2016 election.

Speaking to members of the press, Paul also said he wanted testimony from the officials on the list, including James Comey and James Clapper.

14.05.2020 - 23:00 [ AJC.com ]

‘He knew everything’: Trump demands that Obama testify in Flynn case

“Here is the concern: If you don’t have a national security reason, you’re basically spying on a political opponent,” the South Carolina Republican said on the news show.

“What is the national security reason to unmask Gen. Flynn in transition? I can’t think of one. But, I do believe, given their behavior, they’re looking to get rid of Flynn and if they used our intelligence apparatus to basically act on a political vendetta, that’s chilling to every American and would be very wrong.”

14.05.2020 - 22:56 [ Wall Street Journal ]

More Than a Dozen Obama Officials Requested ‘Unmasking’ That Identified Michael Flynn in Intelligence Reports

The list includes then-Vice President Joe Biden and former CIA Director John Brennan; the requests came after Russian interference in U.S. election.

14.05.2020 - 22:48 [ Fox News ]

Unmasking’ requests number in thousands across administrations, as pols demand details

The numbers reflect how frequently national security and intelligence officials use this tool in their work. Unmasking occurs after U.S. citizens‘ conversations are incidentally picked up in conversations with foreign officials who are being monitored by the intelligence community. The U.S. citizens‘ identities are supposed to be protected if their participation is incidental and no wrongdoing is suspected. However, officials can determine the U.S. citizens‘ names through a process that is supposed to safeguard their rights. In the typical process, when officials are requesting the unmasking of an American, they do not necessarily know the identity of the person in advance.

13.05.2020 - 09:39 [ The Hill / Youtube ]

Saagar Enjeti: Obamagate is real and the media can‘t just ignore it

Saagar Enjeti blasts former President Obama after it was revealed in transcripts he was the person who told then-deputy attorney general Sally Yates about Mike Flynn‘s intercepted phone call with the Russian ambassador, Joe Biden responds to Flynn claims on Good Morning America.

13.05.2020 - 09:27 [ Fox News ]

Grenell declassifies names of Obama officials who ‘unmasked’ Flynn

Another source familiar with the intelligence told Fox News that Grenell is moving to declassify several pieces of intelligence in stages, with this being one part of it. Asked if former President Barack Obama‘s name is on the list of officials involving in unmasking Flynn, the source would not say but stressed the list would make waves.

13.05.2020 - 09:22 [ Wall Street Journal ]

Intelligence Chief Declassifies Names of Obama Officials Who ‘Unmasked’ Flynn

President Trump’s top intelligence adviser has declassified and may release the names of Obama administration officials who requested the “unmasking” of former Trump national security adviser Mike Flynn, an action that identified him from intelligence reports following Mr. Trump’s election in 2016, a senior government official said.

Release of the list, which would be an unprecedented move, is likely to resurrect a partisan debate over an episode that had roiled the early days of Mr. Trump’s presidency …

13.05.2020 - 09:22 [ FoxWilmington.com ]

Rand Paul, citing Flynn case, proposes FISA amendment to curb surveillance of Americans

Sen. Rand Paul on Tuesday introduced an amendment to the House-passed Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to protect Americans’ privacy, citing the case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn as an example of “abuse” and saying it “should never be allowed to happen again.”

Paul, R-Ky., who is an outspoken advocate for privacy reforms, proposed an amendment to the USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020 – which passed the House on a bipartisan basis earlier this year – to protect Americans’ privacy, ensure due process and “reassert the Fourth Amendment.”

10.05.2020 - 03:54 [ New York Times ]

Obama Warns That Dropped Charges Against Flynn Put ‘Rule of Law’ at Risk

“There is no precedent that anybody can find for somebody who has been charged with perjury just getting off scot-free,” Mr. Obama said on a call with thousands of supporters who worked in his administration or campaigns.

10.05.2020 - 03:51 [ NBC News ]

Defense lawyers rail about unfair prosecutions. Flynn‘s case shows why.

Sometimes federal agents are criticized for „creating“ a crime instead of investigating one. Sting operations are examples of crimes that are a consequence of law enforcement actions. Agents create a fictional crime to trick a suspect into attempting to join that crime, thereby creating the crime.

Similarly, Flynn’s crime of lying to government agents was the consequence of the government agents‘ investigation of Flynn. If there was no crime before Flynn‘s interview, then there‘s little reason to interview Flynn as part of a criminal investigation, unless the agents were looking to create a crime.

08.05.2020 - 01:38 [ Radio Utopie ]

Spionage-Intensivkurse der National Academy des F.B.I. für Führungskräfte – Konferenz 2016 in Deutschland

16.2.2017 Zur Zeit wird über die Rolle der U.S.-Geheimdienste spekuliert, die zum Rücktritt des Nationalen Sicherheitsberater von Präsident Donald Trump, Michael Flynn, führten.

08.05.2020 - 01:31 [ Tagesschau ]

Ex-Trump-Mitarbeiter Flynn entlastet

Trump bezeichnete Flynn daraufhin als „völlig entlastet“. Flynn sei Opfer der Machenschaften von „dreckigen, widerlichen Bullen an der Spitze“ der Bundespolizei FBI.

06.05.2020 - 21:18 [ the Hill ]

Did the FBI target Michael Flynn to protect Obama‘s policies, not national security?

How would you like to be investigated by the FBI because you disagreed with the president’s policies? Sounds a little KGB-ish, you might think — and you’d be right, because the FBI has zero authority to conduct such an investigation. But the more we learn about the FBI’s investigation of Michael Flynn, the more it appears he was targeted precisely because, as the national security adviser to the incoming Trump administration, he signaled that the new administration might undo Obama administration policies — which is kind of what the American people voted for in 2016.

02.05.2020 - 17:18 [ Alan Dershowitz / the Hill ]

Michael Flynn case places both FBI integrity and civil liberty on the line

More than a year ago I wrote a series of columns that made the point that former national security adviser Michael Flynn had been set up by the FBI and may have committed no crime. I repeated my legal arguments in several interviews. This led the professional Trump-bashers — who care more about “getting” Trump than about protecting civil liberties — to attack me for “inventing” legal principles that help the Trump team.

Well, it now turns out that I was right all along.

01.05.2020 - 16:11 [ the Hill ]

Trump says he would consider bringing Flynn back into administration

The documents released Wednesday show FBI agents discussing how to handle a January 2017 interview with Flynn, who was still working as Trump‘s national security adviser at the time.

„What‘s our goal? Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?“ an unnamed FBI agent wrote in a handwritten note included among the documents. „If we get him to admit to breaking the Logan Act, give facts to DOJ & have them decide. Or, if he initially lies, then we present him [redacted] & he admits it, document for DOJ, & let them decide how to address it.“

01.05.2020 - 15:58 [ National Review ]

Explosive Revelations in the Flynn Case

(27.04.2020)

As I’ve noted several times over the years, it has long been speculated that Flynn — though he did not believe he was guilty (and though the agents who interviewed him also did not believe he had intentionally misled them) — nevertheless pled guilty to false-statements charges because prosecutors from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s staff threatened him. Specifically, Flynn is said to have been warned that, if he refused to plead guilty, prosecutors would charge his son with a felony for failing to register with the Justice Department as a foreign agent. Such a so-called FARA violation (Foreign Agent Registration Act) is a crime that the DOJ almost never charged before the Mueller investigation, and it had dubious application to Flynn’s son (who worked for Flynn’s private-intelligence firm).

01.05.2020 - 15:56 [ MSNBC ]

‚Get him to lie‘: MSNBC‘s Ari Melber breaks down new Russia probe Flynn docs

New developments in a key case from the Mueller probe. Former national security advisor Michael Flynn had pled guilty to lying to the feds in a cooperation deal. For the first time, we are seeing how they approached him. MSNBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber analyzes all the documents, giving you a fascinating look inside the probe.

14.02.2019 - 08:44 [ CNN ]

Manafort bombshell deepens mystery in Russia probe

None of these activities are necessarily illegal, making it even more difficult to understand why there was an apparent need to cover them up.
„This is the million-dollar question in the entire investigation,“ Rep. Mike Rogers, an Alabama Republican who‘s a former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said on CNN‘s „Cuomo Prime Time.“ „You just have to start asking yourself, why did all of them lie about their connections to the Russians?“https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/13/politics/paul-manafort-donald-trump-russia-probe/index.html