Many misunderstand the Flynn case because they don’t know the difference between counterintelligence and law enforcement.
Flynn was in big counterintel trouble, and got to plead guilty to a small criminal charge because he gave info to help FBI/Mueller counterintel investigation.
Flynn was in big counterintel trouble, and got to plead guilty to a small criminal charge because he gave info to help FBI/Mueller counterintel investigation.
Michael Flynn’s defenders and apologists, from Glenn Greenwald to QAnon, elide the counterintelligence-law enforcement distinction, acting as if the only thing Flynn did wrong was lie to the FBI.
But the lying charge—which he pled guilty to multiple times—was the sweetheart deal.
But the lying charge—which he pled guilty to multiple times—was the sweetheart deal.
To everyone asking if Flynn broke a deal by withdrawing his guilty plea and can now be charged for other things, I think that also confuses counterintel and law enforcement.
Info from Flynn is in the Mueller report. He gave something of value, so his CI deal is likely intact.
Info from Flynn is in the Mueller report. He gave something of value, so his CI deal is likely intact.
Flynn stopped cooperating, refusing to help the law enforcement part (eg providing sworn testimony against someone higher up) and maybe even undermining it. That's why he got charged for lying to investigators. If Flynn had kept cooperating he would've faced no legal punishment.
I understand why many are frustrated with the law enforcement part of Mueller's investigation. Some Trump figures likely dodged accountability.
But the counterintelligence part was more important. We had to understand Russia's anti-US intel op. It'll be a key case study for years
But the counterintelligence part was more important. We had to understand Russia's anti-US intel op. It'll be a key case study for years
Flynn gave FBI/Mueller some info they found useful, which is likely why they didn't go after him for failing to register as a foreign agent (among other things), or his son for alleged involvement in the Gulen kidnapping plot.
That's the counterintelligence deal. Appears intact.
That's the counterintelligence deal. Appears intact.
I don't have access to the redacted parts of the Mueller report, nor do I know what info they acquired that didn't end up in the report.
But if you think it was a mistake for the counterintelligence investigation to trade for Flynn's info, I think that's hindsight bias.
But if you think it was a mistake for the counterintelligence investigation to trade for Flynn's info, I think that's hindsight bias.
Flynn is not a victim. He did things that hurt the country, things he surely knew were illegal, unethical, unpatriotic.
The way he’s been QAnoned into a hero is weird fan fiction. And some who know better play along by eliding the CI-LE distinction.
Pardoning him is a disgrace.
The way he’s been QAnoned into a hero is weird fan fiction. And some who know better play along by eliding the CI-LE distinction.
Pardoning him is a disgrace.
FBI certainly isn’t above criticism, but this strikes me as minor in the full Flynn context.
Most claims of “bad behavior” ignore the counterintel part.
If you start by recognizing that they let Flynn (and son) out of a lot before any legal pressure re: lying, it looks different.
Most claims of “bad behavior” ignore the counterintel part.
If you start by recognizing that they let Flynn (and son) out of a lot before any legal pressure re: lying, it looks different.
https://twitter.com/newordermarket/status/1331988857022271488
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