Michael Flynn’s ex-business partner Bijan Kian was found guilty Tuesday of acting as an unregistered foreign agent and engaging in a conspiracy, various reports from The Washington Post, CNN and others indicated.
“There are very substantial issues as to the sufficiency of the evidence,” Trenga said in court, per various reports. “It’s all very, very circumstantial. Much of it is very speculative.” Per the Post, Trenga reiterated that point Tuesday.
“Plus he is a white guy,” the Trump appointee presiding over the case added proudly.
Only in Trumpworld can a person be convicted by a jury of their peers, convinced beyond a reasonable doubt by the evidence… Only to have the judge toss the case for a lack of evidence.
Michael Flynn had a no-jail-time plea deal, and he seems to have thrown it away to avoid testifying against Bijan Kian. I don’t get it.
Perhaps Flynn knew the fix was in by the judge. Nothing would surprise me anymore.
“There are very substantial issues as to the sufficiency of the evidence,” (Judge0 Trenga said in court, “It’s all very, very circumstantial. Much of it is very speculative.”
I’m sensing another “otherwise blameless life” moment.
why do they all wear the same creepy grin?
Trump has handpicked his judges, but, so far, has forgotten to handpick the jury. That’ll be for the next term, if he gets one.
“There are very substantial issues as to the sufficiency of the evidence,” Trenga said in court, per various reports. “It’s all very, very circumstantial. Much of it is very speculative.” Per the Post, Trenga reiterated that point Tuesday.
So, the judge is going to throw out the verdict.
I don’t think that will happen.
I mean, what’s the point? There is no evidence that Kian has anything on Trump. And if Trenga throws out the conviction, its pretty much the end for Flynn’s co-operation deal – HIS judge will throw the book at Flynn – and Flynn’s son will also be in considerable trouble, because the Flynn deal included his son (IIRC).
Which means that Flynn goes to jail unless/until Trump gives Flynn a pardon. And the minute Flynn gets a pardon, he can no longer claim any kind of fifth amendment privilege, and has to answer all questions truthfully, or be subject to perjury charges. To infinity and beyond (i.e. after Trump is gone, and can no longer pardon Flynn, Flynn still has to answer questions – including questions concerning any direct or implied promise of a pardon from Trump.)
I guess I am very very naive. When my Mama said ‘if it looks too good to be true…’ I believed her.
“Plus he is a Wealthy, Trump-supporting, White Guy”.
TFIFY.
“It’s all very, very circumstantial. Much of it is very speculative.” Trenga reiterated that point Tuesday.
So circumstantial and speculative that 12 people found him guilty. Maybe we can call Kian circumstantially guilty?
Did the judge ban the mention of “Turkish oligarchs” at the outset of the trial?
The judge let the case go to the jury? The jury found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? It would be very unusual for him to toss it.
The trump appointee hints that after kian is found guilty by the 4th appeals he could still throw the case out…
And you just know Flynns going to walk…
This qualifies as a Happy No. 1 of the day so far: Kian’s guilty, Flynn won’t get credit for cooperating to make that happen, and Judge Trumpenga looks like the total ass hat that he is.
Recently, U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga, the Trump appointee presiding over the case, expressed skepticism over prosecutors’ evidence, leaving open the possibility that he could toss the case against Kian.
“Trenga”?!?
Isn’t that an anagram of “Gretna”?
Is wrong of me to hope that it goes this way? Unless Flynn’s judge Emmet Sullivan sentences Flynn to spend the rest of his life in jail there is nothing worse than having to show and testify against his former comrades in Trumplandia.
Or, at the very least, make every effort to mitigate the effects of the jury’s decision. Can a judge submit a recommendation for pardon to the president? Because it sounded to me like this judge had already “judged” that it would be pretty much impossible to convict on the basis of the prosecution’s case – I can’t believe he’ll be content to sit back and see that he wasn’t able to control the outcome of the trial.