Michael Flynn triggers the beginning of the end of Donald Trump by pleading the Fifth Amendment
Well, that’s one way to avoid testifying. Facing a subpoena from the Senate Intelligence Committee in a Russia scandal which has already seen him unofficially admit his guilt by retroactively registering as a foreign agent, former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn is now planning to invoke the Fifth Amendment – and it’s a move which triggers the beginning of the end of Donald Trump.
This news from Michael Flynn isn’t necessarily surprising. But it’s still nonetheless a stunning blow to Trump’s hopes of surviving this. The Associated Press says Flynn will formally plead the Fifth later today (link), which means he’ll be officially admitting his guilt. It’s true that the aides of past Presidents and candidates have invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid testifying, but that’s taken place in a radically different context, where one person violated the law. This is a whole other matter.
By invoking the Fifth, not only is Flynn admitting he’s guilty in the Russia scandal, he’s admitting the Russia scandal is a real thing. He’s acknowledging that the Trump campaign’s inappropriate relationship with the Russian government really did exist. And whatever Flynn’s intention today, he might as well be admitting that Donald Trump is also guilty – because this is a scandal that we know extends all the way to the top. The timing is also horrific for Trump, as he feebly attempts to use his first official overseas trip – which already isn’t going well by any measure – to take the focus off the exploding Russia scandal. So much for that.
By the way, pleading the Fifth Amendment means you’re setting yourself up to be charged with the crime in question. So Michael Flynn isn’t suddenly off the hook. Look for the legal process to accelerate against him now that he’s hunkering down. And let’s see if he’s still silent about what he knows about Trump once he realizes he’s going to prison if he doesn’t start talking. If Trump thinks Flynn pleading the Fifth is good news for himself, he’s mistaken.
