Trump won't rule out Flynn pardon

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill



BY JORDAN FABIAN - 12/15/17 10:01 AM EST

President Trump on Friday refused to rule out a pardon for former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty in the special counsel probe into Russia’s election interference.

"I don’t want to talk about pardons for Michael Flynn yet,” Trump told reporters at the White House. "We'll see what happens. Let's see."

Trump also refused to say when he learned that his former national security adviser lied to the FBI, the crime for which he pleaded guilty. "You know the answer," Trump said. "How many times has that question been asked?"

Flynn's guilty plea is a troubling sign for Trump and the White House in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether the Trump campaign cooperated with Russia's election-meddling effort in 2016.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/365080-trump-wont-rule-out-flynn-pardon

[Perseus]

1. I would warn Flynn that

this is just talk to make sure Flynn doesn't talk, which he may have already, but when the time comes Trump will screw him like he screws everyone else.

If Flynn trusts Trump he is a bigger fool than I thought.

[marylandblue]

2. Flynn does not trust Trump, or he would not have flipped

Also, he won't pardon Flynn, because then there would be nothing to stop Flynn from revealing everything he knows, making Trump even more vulnerable than he is now.

[William Seger]

7. "We'll see what happens" was a direct threat

Witness tampering.

[alphafemale]

10. Actually. That takes away Flynn's 5th amendment right.

Pardon him. G'head.

[FakeNoose]

14. Flynn has already talked, so Trump must be an idiot

There would have been no deal for Flynn - pleading guilty to a lesser charge - unless Mueller already got the info he needed from Flynn.

Now Manafort is a different situation, we don' t know how much Manafort has revealed to Mueller. Things are kind of quiet right now, but Mueller never leaks anything.

[jrthin]

3. Hasn't that ship sailed? Hasn't Flynn given

Mueller enough info already inorder to get that plea deal? I certainly hope so.

[forgotmylogin]

4. Flynn has flipped and already gotten a sweet deal.

45 better save his get out of jail free cards...

The moment 45 starts pardoning people, all the rules change and he may not get to do it again. (Possible sealed indictment of 45 that nullifies his pardon)
Even if Flynn is pardoned, he loses 5th amendment privileges and still has to testify. I suspect Mueller has this possibility already in check in his plea bargain with Flynn.
If 45 is just doing his best bro a solid like he purports, he's wasting a heal spell when there are other party members who will be taking more damage later in the raid.

[CanonRay]

5. Mueller squeezed every drop out of the lemon

before the plea deal was inked. You can bet on it.

[Thekaspervote]

6. In Flynn' plea deal he agreed to be charged possibly with state and local charges

Dodart has NO ability to pardon on a state or local level!! Watch out... here comes NY AG Schneiderman and manhattan AG.. the plea deal is pardon proof

[dawg day]

8. At what point does "pardon" become "obstruction"?

>"I don’t want to talk about pardons for Michael Flynn yet,” Trump told reporters at the White House. "We'll see what happens. Let's see.

That seems pretty clearly calculated to elicit some kind of behavior from Flynn.

[Maeve]

11. Too much too little too late

That horse left the barn weeks ago and tRump is going to be left with nothing but the horse's laugh...

[moonseller66]

12. Pardon Me?

Maybe Mueller is going to "get trumpf first."

If he's concerned about the idiot pardoning people, what better way to guard against pardons and make sure the guilty pay than to remove trumpf first. Then Pence would be put on the hot seat as to whether to pardon them or not. Either way, Pence would be in a rather difficult, political spot.

[tinrobot]

13. He still can't pardon for state crimes

State prison is usually worse than federal prison.

With state charges waiting in the wings, Flynn will keep talking, regardless.