IMMUNITY BID MAY SIGNAL FLYNN WORRIES
Trump endorses move; lawmakers moving cautiously
WASHINGTON Michael Flynn’s unusual public pursuit of immunity in exchange for his testimony before two congressional committees investigating Russian interference in the 2016 elections potentially exposes the former White House national security adviser’s vulnerability on several major fronts, from his contacts with Moscow to his previous work for foreign interests, including Russia.
Until a Tuesday House Intelligence Committee hearing was abruptly canceled, Flynn was expected to be a central figure in testimony from former acting attorney general Sally Yates. It was Yates who alerted the White House counsel’s office to intelligence intercepts of Flynn’s pre-inaugural communications with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, prompting his subsequent dismissal by President Trump.
The request for immunity indicates that Flynn may feel he is in legal trouble.
Flynn was interviewed by FBI agents in connection with those intercepts, which contradicted the Trump administration’s repeated public statements that Flynn had not discussed sanctions imposed against Russia by the Obama administration.
Questions also have been raised about Flynn’s compensation from foreign interests, including Russian entities. In March, Flynn registered retroactively as a foreign agent, disclosing that his former consulting firm earned $530,000 last year from a Dutch entity with ties to Turkey’s government.
The work occurred while Flynn was a top adviser to Trump’s presidential campaign. In addition, documents released by Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., show that Flynn
USA TODAY WASHINGTON While President Trump encouraged former top aide Michael Flynn to offer testimony to investigators in exchange for immunity from possible prosecution, congressional leaders investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 election signaled Friday it was too early to consider such a deal.
“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,” said California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. “When the time comes to consider requests for immunity from any witness, we will of course require a detailed proffer of any intended testimony.”
Schiff’s statement marked the first public remarks by any of the leaders of the House and Senate Intelligence committees regarding Flynn’s immunity request initially conveyed late Thursday by attorney Robert Kelner.
The California congressman said Flynn’s offer would be taken up with leaders of the Senate committee and the Justice Department, where the FBI also is in the midst of a wide-ranging counter-intelligence investigation into Russia’s election interference and whether members of Trump’s campaign coordinated with Russian officials.
This week, Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., indicated the panel would pursue testimony from Flynn as part of a roster of 20 witnesses the panel was assembling so far for its inquiry. “You would think less of us if Gen. Flynn wasn’t on that list,” Burr told reporters.
Friday, Trump cited Flynn in a tweet denouncing the various Russia-related investigations that shadow his administration.
“Mike Flynn should ask for immunity in that this is a witch hunt (excuse for big election loss), by media & Dems, of historic proportion!” Trump tweeted.
Trump’s latest missive came hours after Flynn’s attorney issued a tantalizing statement about his client’s interest in providing information to congressional and federal investigators.
“Gen. Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit,” Kelner said before stating Flynn’s desire for immunity. “No reasonable person, who has the benefit of advice from counsel, would submit to questioning in such a highly politicized, witch-hunt environment without assurances against unfair prosecution.”