The News (New Glasgow)

‘Witch hunt’

Trump urges former adviser to cut immunity deal

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President Donald Trump urged his former national security adviser to strike an immunity deal Friday, even as congressio­nal investigat­ors rebuffed Michael Flynn’s offer of co-operation in exchange for protection from prosecutio­n.

Trump tweeted that Flynn, the adviser he fired in February, should ask for immunity because he’s facing “a witch hunt.”

The president weighed in the day after Flynn’s attorney confirmed the immunity discussion­s with intelligen­ce committees in both the Senate and House that are investigat­ing Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidenti­al election.

A congressio­nal aide confirmed preliminar­y discussion­s with the Senate intelligen­ce committee involved immunity but that it was too early in the investigat­ion to set terms. The aide was not authorized to discuss private conversati­ons and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Justice Department did not immediatel­y respond to a request for comment.

It was unclear from Trump’s tweet whether he was advising the Justice Department or the congressio­nal panels to give his former adviser immunity. The president is not supposed to direct ongoing investigat­ions.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump just wants Flynn to testify, and there are no concerns that Flynn could implicate the president in any wrongdoing.

The top Democrat on the House intelligen­ce committee, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, said committee leaders would be discussing the issue with their Senate counterpar­ts and the Justice Department.

“We should first acknowledg­e what a grave and momentous step it is for a former national security adviser to the president of the United States to ask for immunity from prosecutio­n,” Schiff said in a statement.

Flynn’s attorney, Robert Kelner, said no “reasonable person” who has a lawyer would answer questions without assurances that he would not be prosecuted, given calls from some members of Congress that the retired lieutenant general should face criminal charges.

Flynn seemed to have a different view last September when he weighed in on the implicatio­ns of immunity on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” criticizin­g Democratic presidenti­al candidate Hillary Clinton and her associates in the FBI’s investigat­ion into her use of a private email server.

“When you are given immunity, that means that you have probably committed a crime,” Flynn said during the interview.

His own lawyer, Kelner, said Thursday: “General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstan­ces permit.”

Trump spokesman Spicer said the president “thinks he should go out and tell his story.”

Flynn’s ties to Russia have been scrutinize­d by the FBI and are under investigat­ion by the congressio­nal committees. Both panels are looking into Russia’s meddling in the election and any ties between Trump associates and the Kremlin.

 ?? AP PHOTO ?? In a tweet Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump urged his former national security adviser to strike an immunity deal with congressio­nal investigat­ors.
AP PHOTO In a tweet Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump urged his former national security adviser to strike an immunity deal with congressio­nal investigat­ors.

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