MSNBC reporter stunned after ferocious judge suggests Mike Flynn be charged with treason

[Quixote1818]

MSNBC’s Pete Williams was stunned by the ferocity of Judge Emmet Sullivan, who is taking “a much harder line” with the sentencing of President Trump’s former national security advisor Michael Flynn, convicted for lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia.

“This is a rattlesnake judge shaking the rattle,” said Williams, clearly startled by Sullivan’s signal that he would ignore the joint recommendation of both the defense and the prosecution that Flynn serve no jail time. “He is saying look out, because he is prepared to give him a sentence in prison and strongly suggesting that the defense take the hint and delay this sentence to see if there is more cooperating that they can do.”

Williams said Sullivan was outraged that Flynn had lied to the FBI while in the White House, and slammed the defendant for “acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government while he was serving as national security adviser.”

“He said at one point that he found Flynn’s behavior disgusting, and astonishingly, asked at one point if Mueller’s team ever considered charging Mike Flynn with treason,” a clearly gobsmacked Williams reported. “I have a hard time understanding that, because treason means aid and comfort to the enemy, and I’m not sure what enemy the judge is thinking of.”

More with video: https://www.rawstory.com/2018/12/msnbc-reporter-stunned-after-ferocious-judge-suggests-mike-flynn-be-charged-with-treason/?utm_source=push_notifications

[FirstLight]

1. good

i hope he gets spanked!

[CincyDem]

2. He's backtracked. Saying he didn't mean to imply Flynn committed treason.

Link to tweet

So...sounds like someone made a call to the judge in this one during the break.

[NewJeffCT]

13. He never said that Flynn committed treason

while he was outraged, he asked if the prosecutors considered charging him with treason. Not quite the same thing.

[leftynyc]

3. Don't read too much into judge's words

First, he's already walking them back and I suspect it's going to be community service and 2 years probation.

[Bucky]

11. Mmm-hmmm

But it's probably good that someone remind Flynn he was working against his own country. This jail free treatment is extraordinary. For that level of clemency, he should've work a wire.

[leftynyc]

21. Maybe he did (wear a wire)

But I agree that ZERO jail time is ridiculous. Unless he gave up donnie in which case all will be forgiven by me.

[SunSeeker]

4. Judge Sullivan speaks for me.

Oh, and Pete Williams, the enemy the judge is thinking of is Russia, that country that ATTACKED us in 2016.

[mulsh]

5. Apparently judge Sullivan does not get his legal theories from the media, I suspect he's read some

Law books and the constitution at some time. If we ever had an enemy our first adversary, Russia, would be that enemy.

Williams is part of the chorus trying to sell the notion that an active shooting war is required to charge someone with treason. The media has been preparing us for a light sentence for Flynn.

Here's t 18 U.S. Code 2381 Treason, I'm especially interested in the part that reads"...or adheres to their enemies, ..." which would tend to include stuff Flynn has admitted to doing.

[link:Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States. (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 807; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(2)(J), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)|

[KPN]

7. Yep. It's s matter of definition of the word "enemy"

Russia was clearly an enemy of the western world/NATO during Obama’s presidency — when this (Flynn’s criminal activities) occurred to begin with. And it’s obvious that Russia is our and the wester world’s enemy now (or it should be). ... Laws often defy or negate common sense however. This may be one of those cases.

[TheRealNorth]

6. My counter-argument is that Russia committed an "Act of War"

By interfering in the election. So is the media going to tell me that anyone spying on the Pacific Fleet prior to Pearl Harbor isn't a traitor because we were not "at war"?

[KPN]

8. That was before alternative facts. So no,

because that’s different.

[stopbush]

9. Pete Williams is still a RW hack, IMO.

[Bucky]

10. Peter Williams is a good reporter, but an old Reaganite

We don't know everything Flynn did yet, besides lie to the FBI, to warrant a treason charge. But we do know he was clubby with Putin and worked for Putin's puppets in Ukraine. So when Williams says "I'm not sure what enemy the judge is thinking of," he's full of shit. We all know who Flynn was working for

[NewJeffCT]

15. You can tell some of what Flynn did

by the charges filed against his associates yesterday.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/us/politics/flynn-turkey-bijan-kian.html

[Wellstone ruled]

12. Poor little Pete Williams.

Stunned,duh,he is a perfect example of what is so wrong with the media. Got to take those Rose Colored Glasses off Pete.

[yuiyoshida]

14. I'm good with that...

just saying...

[Reader Rabbit]

16. I don't understand why anyone would be stunned.

Regardless of whether or not Flynn's actions fit the definition of treason—and there are arguments to be made either way—he knowingly aided and abetted a foreign power in its plan to gain control over aspects of the U.S. government.

[Grammy23]

17. Given his years in the military and his position as National Security Advisor,

You’re damn straight he knew what he was doing was WRONG. He is and should be held to a higher standard. If he and the attorneys involved in this case are surprised, too damn bad. I always thought that given how vigorously he led the chants to “Lock her up!”, no amount of co-operating offsets that. He KNEW what he was doing was not right, but there he was, full of righteous indignation, castigating Hillary Clinton for things he was aware were false. So throw the book at him, Judge. Lessons need to be learned here. To those who rise to such exalted positions, much is expected regarding ethics. And he failed in every aspect. So he continues to await his judgment, but a sentence that includes prison time won’t bother me at all. In fact, my sense of fairness and accountability for the crimes demands it.

[mountain grammy]

18. Gee sucks to be you Pete.

Shocked at treason. Oh my stars.

[JDC]

19. Sell out your country, get caught, face consequences, get called a traitor in court. Pretty simple.

[DeminPennswoods]

20. Sullivan was rightly outraged

I'm not surprised that he was ready to give Flynn jail time and even if Flynn co-operates more over the next 90 days, I think Flynn will still go to jail. Flynn was a 3-star general, held the highest security clearances and served in positions of incredible importantance. Frankly, co-operating with Mueller was the LEAST Flynn could do to make up for that spectacular breach of trust and honesty. What Flynn really deserves is to be recalled to the Army, court-martialed, busted to PFC and to spend the rest of his days in Leavenworth.