President Trump shared a post that said his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, will be “exonerated this week.”
Flynn, 61, is fighting to dismiss the government’s case against him, which stems from the Russia investigation. Evidence was submitted to the court on Friday, which remains under seal but was touted on Sunday by California Rep. Devin Nunes as likely being “exculpatory evidence.”
Hours after interviewing Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo tweeted Sunday evening: “Breaking News: sources tell me [Flynn] will be completely exonerated this week. It was a total fraud. A Set up.”
Breaking News: sources tell me @GenFlynn will be completely exonerated this week. It was a total fraud. A Set up. More tomorrow @MorningsMaria @FoxBusiness @FoxNews @SundayFutures
— Maria Bartiromo (@MariaBartiromo) April 26, 2020
Trump retweeted Bartiromo’s tweet, as well as another from an account appearing to belong to Flynn’s sister, Barbara, which quoted Nunes saying the retired lieutenant general was “framed” by the FBI.
Devin Nunes-“Why is General Flynn Important? Because He Was Framed By His Own Government!!” #HumanScum @DevinNunes @GenFlynn ⭐️⭐️⭐️ @realDonaldTrump @SidneyPowell1 @KerriKupecDOJ @JosephJFlynn1 @TomFitton https://t.co/TUR7CYfa4j
— Barbara(Flynn)⭐️⭐️⭐️Redgate #WhoLeakedGenFlynn (@BarbaraRedgate) April 26, 2020
CBS News senior investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge also reported on Sunday that Friday’s filing will be “important” in the days ahead.
“Drawing attention Friday filing Flynn case @CBSNews told important for days ahead. AG Barr directed Missouri US Attorney to review FBI personnel ‘communications and notes,’ in part, to determine whether key evidence withheld. Docs under seal but may change,” she tweeted.
#FISA Drawing attention Friday filing Flynn case @CBSNews told important for days ahead. AG Barr directed Missouri US Attorney to review FBI personnel “communications and notes,” in part, to determine whether key evidence withheld. Docs under seal but may change. @ClareHymes22 pic.twitter.com/Kn76OP2BnI
— Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Herridge) April 26, 2020
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri Jeffrey Jensen was selected by Attorney General William Barr in January 2020 to review the Flynn case.
Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to investigators about his conversations with Russian diplomat Sergey Kislyak regarding sanctions on Russia and a United Nations resolution on Israel.
But in January, he told the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., that he was “innocent of this crime.” He filed to withdraw his guilty plea after the Justice Department asked the judge to sentence Flynn to up to six months in prison, though afterward, the department said probation would also be appropriate. His lead attorney, Sidney Powell, is pressing for the dismissal of his case by arguing the FBI unfairly treated Flynn.
The president said last month he was seriously considering a pardon for Flynn.
“So now it is reported that, after destroying his life & the life of his wonderful family (and many others also), the FBI, working in conjunction with the Justice Department, has ‘lost’ the records of General Michael Flynn. How convenient. I am strongly considering a Full Pardon!” Trump tweeted on March 15.
