Justice Department's attempt to dismiss Flynn charges is 'gross prosecutorial abuse,' court-tapped lawyer says
Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn isn't quite off the hook yet.
While the Department of Justice has tried to dismiss charges of lying to the FBI against the retired general after a review of his case, the decision is still up to U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan. So Sullivan tapped former federal judge John Gleeson to analyze the case and provide a friend of the court brief, and in Gleeson's view, Flynn should still be charged and sentenced.
Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to charges of lying to the FBI, but earlier this year, said he wanted to withdraw his plea because he was pressured into giving it. The DOJ sided with Flynn, saying it would move to drop his charges after agreeing the FBI tried to entrap the former national security adviser.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But Gleeson disagreed in his amicus brief filed Wednesday, calling the Justice Department's attempt to drop the charges "gross prosecutorial abuse." It's all "an unconvincing effort to disguise as legitimate a decision to dismiss that is based solely on the fact that Flynn is a political ally of President Trump," Gleeson continued. While there is "ample" evidence Flynn committed perjury by saying he lied in his initial guilty plea, Gleeson recommends Flynn be sentenced on his original charge of lying to the FBI.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Patria Palace: a chic, relaxing bolthole in the heart of Lecce
The Week Recommends Elegant hotel with stunning views of the city's baroque cathedral and access to a beach club on the Adriatric coast
By Nick Hendry Published
-
'One lesson concerns the uses and limits of military power'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - December 3, 2024
Cartoons Tuesday's cartoons - elves at work, crystal clear, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Judge blocks Louisiana 10 Commandments law
Speed Read U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ruled that a law ordering schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms was unconstitutional
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
ATF finalizes rule to close 'gun show loophole'
Speed Read Biden moves to expand background checks for gun buyers
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Hong Kong passes tough new security law
Speed Read It will allow the government to further suppress all forms of dissent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
France enshrines abortion rights in constitution
speed read It became the first country to make abortion a constitutional right
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Texas executes man despite contested evidence
Speed Read Texas rejected calls for a rehearing of Ivan Cantu's case amid recanted testimony and allegations of suppressed exculpatory evidence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court wary of state social media regulations
Speed Read A majority of justices appeared skeptical that Texas and Florida were lawfully protecting the free speech rights of users
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Greece legalizes same-sex marriage
Speed Read Greece becomes the first Orthodox Christian country to enshrine marriage equality in law
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump and his lawyer Alina Habba have a rough day in defamation court
Speed Read Trump's audible grousing as E. Jean Carroll testified earned him a warning he could be thrown out of court, and Habba showed she 'doesn't know what the hell she's doing'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published