Hey Donald Trump, feel free to release the Kraken by pardoning Michael Flynn

| 11:36 pm EDT May 22, 2017
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At the end of a day in which Michael Flynn invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid incriminating himself in the Trump-Russia scandal, and the House Oversight Committee revealed that it has the documents to incriminate him anyway, it’s become clear that Flynn is almost certainly going to prison unless he flips on Donald Trump. That’s led some cynics to ask if Trump might simply pardon Flynn. But I say bring it on.

Here’s thing about politicians in office: there’s a cost to every action they take. Donald Trump learned that when he fired FBI Director James Comey to try to hinder the Trump-Russia investigation. It was a power which Trump had, and Comey is in fact gone from the FBI. But as a direct result, a Special Counsel with broader powers has been appointed to take over the investigation, and some members of Congress from both parties have begun speaking the word “impeachment” out loud. For Trump, the cost was likely greater than the gain.

Now imagine the fallout if Donald Trump decides to pardon Michael Flynn for his Russia-related crimes. To be clear, the president can do that. We all saw Richard Nixon get blanket-pardoned for everything relating to Watergate, even though he hadn’t yet been convicted or even charged with a crime. So yes, Trump can pardon Flynn tomorrow morning if he wants; all it takes is a signature.

But if you thought the fallout was bad for Trump when he fired Comey, just wait and see the political hellfire that’ll rain down on Trump if he pardons the guy who’s widely seen as having been his go-between with Russia during the campaign. More of the public will conclude that Trump and Flynn are guilty, and his already painfully low approval rating will plummet further. More Republicans in Congress will decide that it looks so bad, they’ll have to bail on him to preserve their own chances of reelection in the midterms. The intel community will leak even more dirt on him. Trump will be finished if he pardons Flynn. So by all means, Donald, feel free to release the Kraken. If you’re a regular reader, feel free to support Palmer Report