The brilliance of Robert Mueller's strategy with Flynn.

[pnwmom]

Limiting the plea agreement to a single count of lying means that Ty Cobb can assure DT that all Flynn is pleading guilty to is the same lying that he was supposedly fired for -- nothing new.

This might reduce the chance that DT panics and fires Mueller -- at least for the time being.

OTOH, the plea agreement contains language that leaves open the possibility that Flynn might be indicted for other crimes that were not included in this agreement.

So the agreement applies only to the particular crime in the Statement of Offense -- but in exchange it requires Flynn to give unlimited assistance to Mueller in his investigation, in any Federal or State or local prosecutions.

In other words, Mueller has gotten all the cooperation he needs from Flynn while revealing only a single one of his legal cards to DT -- and still threatening Flynn with other cards, if Flynn isn't helpful enough.

ON EDIT: Also, by reserving additional charges, Mueller has avoided the chance of double jeopardy. If DT pardons Flynn, there remain other unpressed charges against Flynn that could be transferred to a State Attorney General for prosecution.

[WinkyDink]

1. Thank you for this. I can move back a tad from the edge now, as I truly

was baffled by the deal.

[pnwmom]

2. You're welcome. I've heard a number of lawyers give various reasons why the

single count indictment was a perfectly good and prudent result, and the pieces finally fell into place when I read the actual agreement -- and realized how much cooperation Mueller had gotten for that single count.

Mueller isn't a softy. If Flynn was at the top of this food chain, Mueller would have thrown the book at him. He didn't do that because he's going after a much bigger fish. And now he'll do it with Flynn's help.

And Flynn is boxed in since he's already pleaded guilty and he can't take it back.

[mercuryblues]

3. Don't ever play poker with Mueller

He always has an ace up his sleeve.

If trump pardons him, there are other crimes Mueller can charge Flynn with. At this point trump will have to pardon Flynn for crimes he isn't charged with. Presidential pardons are only good for federal crimes. States can still bring charges if that happens. The kidnapping plotting took place at trump tower in NYC.

The best part is that even if trump fully pardons Flynn, Flynn still has to testify. Mueller has Flynn's sworn, signed statement so if he tries to lie he can then charge with that.