Donald Trump Tweets About Michael Flynn Lying to the FBI
Did President Trump Just Admit to Obstruction of Justice With This 1 Tweet?
UPDATE: The New York Times reported on the evening of Dec. 2 that a lawyer for Trump, John Dowd, composed the tweet — not Trump himself. According to the paper, Dowd apologized to White House officials for the message, saying he "should have been more careful" with his language.
Original story:
On Saturday, Dec. 2, President Trump broke his silence about the news that his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his relations to Russia on Friday. "I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI," Trump tweeted. "He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!"
Of course, this might have seemed like no big deal to Trump, who seemingly tweets the first thoughts that come to his mind, but politicians and political pundits were quick to point out that the President may have just admitted to obstruction of justice without even realizing it. Read on to see Trump's original tweet, then read the reactions to his stunning revelation ahead.
I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI. He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2017
Oh my god, he just admitted to obstruction of justice. If Trump knew Flynn lied to the FBI when he asked Comey to let it go, then there is your case. https://t.co/c6Wtd0TfzW
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) December 2, 2017
Trump just admitted he fired Mike Flynn knowing he'd lied to the FBI as he was pressuring Comey to end the FBI's investigation of Flynn. Obstruction of justice doesn't get more cut and dry.
— Jared Yates Sexton (@JYSexton) December 2, 2017
Even if no one can ever proves collusion, Trump fired the FBI Director because he refused to drop an investigation into a close associate, which we know because Trump just admitted it via tweet
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) December 2, 2017
THIS IS OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. @POTUS now admits he KNEW Michael Flynn lied to the FBI. Yet Trump tried to influence or stop the FBI investigation on #Flynn. https://t.co/8JqGBxgou0
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 2, 2017
Tommy Vietor, cohost of Pod Save America, used the moment to call on the President to continue to dig a grave for himself, tweeting:
What else do you think about this ongoing investigation?
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) December 2, 2017
