With “a story to tell” on the question of alleged contacts between President Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign and Russia, former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn is talks with congressional investigators to get immunity from “unfair prosecution.”
But it is not clear at this stage if congressional investigators would agree to the former general’s request for immunity from any prosecution. On his Twitter account, President Trump emphasized that Flynn, who had to resign for not making full disclosures on his conversation with Moscow’s ambassador to the United States. must seek immunity.
“General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit,’’ Flynn’s attorney, Robert Kelner, said.
In a statement, the attorney said “out of respect for the committees, we will not comment right now on the details of discussions between counsel for General Flynn and the House and Senate intelligence committees, other than to confirm that those discussions have taken place. But it is important to acknowledge the circumstances in which those discussions are occurring.’’
Kelner also noted that his client is facing “claims of treason and vicious innuendo” and that has been a factor into his negotiations with the intelligence committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate in Congress.
“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,” Kelner said.
The House and Senate panels are probing Russian attempts to influence the U.S. election process and in the process determining whether the Trump campaign officials were in contact with Russian officials.
Separately, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is also looking into the issue and this month top intelligence officials testified on the Capitol Hill on the issue in a heightened political climate.
