Mike Flynn joining lobbying firm after pleading guilty in Russia probe

[groundloop]

Source: CBS News

Months after pleading guilty to the FBI about his contacts with a Russian official, former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn is joining a newly launched firm to head up its global consulting and foreign lobbying efforts. Flynn is currently awaiting sentencing, so it's unclear how that might affect his new role.

Flynn is joining the new consulting firm Stonington Strategies as its "director of global strategy," which means he will "direct the firm's business development and provide strategic consulting on international military, intelligence and peacekeeping activities," the firm said in a statement. The firm is being launched by lobbyist Joey Allaham and Republican strategist and lobbyist Nick Muzin. According to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported Flynn's new gig, Muzin and Allaham worked on behalf of the Qataris until last month.

Flynn admitted last year he was paid for consulting work for the Turkish government while he was on the Trump campaign.

"We are proud to welcome General Flynn to our firm and are delighted to be able to draw on his years of military and national security experience to better serve our clients," Muzin said in a statement. "The general's uniquely American story and his commitment to national security, freedom and counter-terrorism are an inspiration to millions of Americans, and we are excited to work with him to promote these values around the world."

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mike-flynn-returning-to-foreign-lobbying-after-pleading-guilty-in-russia-probe/

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Flynn is certainly not too worried about spending any time in prison, he's almost certainly been promised a pardon by Spanky.

[Honeycombe8]

1. Unbelievable. As for a pardon, I don't think he needs one, does he?

He's made a deal.

[metalbot]

5. A deal may let him avoid prison

But he's pleading guilty to a felony, which has implications beyond simply whether or not you get locked in a room for a certain number of rotations of the planet around its axis.

A felony conviction would bar travel to many countries, prevent voting, along with a laundry list of other mundane things that he might want to do. I'm not suggesting this out of any sense of sympathy for the guy - he deserves everything he gets. I'm just pointing out that a pardon would be a huge deal for him.

The cynic in me says that he isn't hoping for a pardon from Trump, but rather for a pardon from Pence (in exchange for helping Pence to the presidency by turning on Trump).

[Honeycombe8]

6. Makes sense. BUT...

for him to have the job already, without the investigation concluding, and without a pardon, something must already be worked out.

Not sure how much Flynn's testimony hurts Trump where it hurts. Flynn was involved mainly in the conversation w/Russian amb. re sanctions. Who knows what else he knows about? Maybe not that much.

[metalbot]

7. I don't think the job is surprising at all

Lobbying is all about access, and Flynn certainly still has plenty of people in Washington, the DoD, and the defense industry who will return his phone calls even if they won't meet with him publicly.

Flynn's ability to hurt Trump really comes from his ability to share private conversations that would indicate when the President knew things or if the President was trying to cover things up. I suspect that one of the reasons that Flynn has not been sentenced yet is that Mueller wants to interview Trump first and try to catch Trump in a lie based on testimony from Flynn.

If Mueller can catch Trump with a statement that is contradicted by Flynn, then either Flynn or Trump (or both) is lying. If Mueller can show Flynn lied as part of trying to get a plea deal, Flynn goes away forever. If Mueller can show that Trump lied, then game on.

[Ilsa]

8. My guess is that they have a tentative agreement, contingent

on him following through if he is needed at trial.

Getting a job in the meantime probably helps his profile in the eyes of a judge.

[Honeycombe8]

9. The trial is not the problem. Having a felony on his record is...but apparently isn't an issue.

It's been taken care of? They issued a proclamation, proudly announcing that he's joining the new company. I don't think they'd hire anyone in that capacity, if he couldn't travel internationally. I don't know if Skype cuts it at that level. But who knows.

It's just unbelievable that he gets a high profile job, after being a traitor.

[badhair77]

2. America - land of opportunity.

Once a crony, always a crony. Unbelievable.

[Leghorn21]

3. ...or IS he?!?

Wait, what?
https://www.wsj.com/articles/mike-flynn-joins-global-
consulting-firm-1531245600?mod=e2tw …
6:05 PM - Jul 10, 2018

Mike Flynn’s Lawyers Say He Is No Longer Joining Consulting Firm
Hours after a new lobbying firm aimed at domestic and
global clients announced it was partnering with former
national security adviser Mike Flynn, attorneys for the embattled
Mr. Flynn said the deal...
wsj.com

Link to tweet

[Honeycombe8]

10. That WSJ article has been removed from the site. How bizarre.

Maybe the firm wasn't supposed to announce the employment so soon. That sort of implies he'll be able to travel internationally, which means he'll have a pardon? Who knows. Guess we'll find out.

But looks like Flynn is still a much desired commodity, traitor or not.

[BumRushDaShow]

17. The link directly from her tweet works - grabbed the tweet again and posted below

Text version of the tweet link should work now...

Link to tweet

TEXT

Maddow Blog
✔
@MaddowBlog

Wait, what?https://www.wsj.com/articles/mike-flynn-joins-global-consulting-firm-1531245600?mod=e2tw …
7:05 PM - Jul 10, 2018

Mike Flynn’s Lawyers Say He Is No Longer Joining Consulting Firm

By Julie Bykowicz
Updated July 10, 2018 7:00 p.m. ET
24 COMMENTS

Hours after a new lobbying firm aimed at domestic and global clients announced it was partnering with former national security adviser Mike Flynn, attorneys for the embattled Mr. Flynn said the deal was off and the notice had been released as a result of a “misunderstanding” among the participants in Stonington Global LLC.

“General Flynn has not joined Stonington and did not personally issue any public statement,” Mr. Flynn’s attorneys Robert Kelner and Stephen Anthony said in a statement Tuesday. “He was aware that a statement was being drafted, but he did not intend that it be issued at this time.”

Mr. Flynn is awaiting sentencing for lying to federal investigators. His December guilty plea grew out of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and faces up to six months in jail. Nick Muzin and Joey Allaham told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that they had started their firm with Mr. Flynn. They also launched a Stonington website and promotional video Tuesday. “We cannot comment on General Flynn’s considerations about the timing of the announcement, but we have faith in his patriotism and long history of service to our country,” Messrs. Muzin and Allaham said after Mr. Flynn’s lawyers issued their statement. “We look forward to working together.”

Mr. Flynn was back in court Tuesday for the first time since his guilty plea, as U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan asked for an update on where the legal teams stand on his sentencing. The judge didn’t set a sentencing date. He is scheduled to receive an update on the case’s status from prosecutors and Mr. Flynn’s lawyers by Aug. 24.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/mike-flynn-lawyers-say-he-is-no-longer-joining-consulting-firm-1531245600?mod=e2tw&tesla=y

[Honeycombe8]

18. Okay. Thx. Wow. Looks like he's joining it, but not to be announced just yet...because

that lets the cat out of the bag that it's arranged he'll be pardoned so he can travel internationally. Can't imagine they'd take on someone who can't travel internationally. I wouldn't think phone calls & Skype would cut it, at that level. You know how they love to travel and get free dinners at 5 star restaurants and have yuge tax deductions for living expenses.

[BumRushDaShow]

19. Apparently he helped to create the organization

which would be why it would be natural to have him working there.

The swamp still bubbles....

[Honeycombe8]

20. America. Where the oligarchy doesn't recognize the country. Being a traitor means nothing.

Being a traitor to big bizness and Trump is everything. Oligarchy takeover is almost complete, esp w/Kavanaugh on the S.Ct.

[Turbineguy]

4. If Hitler hadn't shot himself....

he could have gotten a nice gig with some repub lobbying outfit.

[dalton99a]

14. No shit

[olddad56]

11. the latest on that is that he didn't join this firm, according to a statement by his attorneys

[DeminPennswoods]

15. Maddow announced this at the very end of her show

on Tuesday. She read the press release saying the Flynn hadn't/wasn't going to join this firm.

[blue-wave]

13. WTF?????

This must be some sort of a cruel fucking joke!!!! Even if they are no longer considering him for a position in their firm, the very thought of doing that is outrageous and treasonous. He should never be allowed near our government again!!! Golly gee, let's lobby the U.S. government for the Russians oligarchs so they can enjoy multi-million dollar contracts at American taxpayer expense??? WTF is going on here???? If those fuckers (republicons) are not thrown out of congress wholesale this November, then our constitutional republic is over. We will be ruled by the modern equivalent of tyrannical Roman Emperors.

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Lawyers: Flynn knew statement was being drafted but "did not intend that it be issued at this time"

"The Wall Street Journal reported today that Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Michael T. Flynn has joined the firm Stonington Global LLC and quoted a statement that it attributed to General Flynn. General Flynn has not joined Stonington and did not personally issue any public statement. He was aware that a statement was being drafted, but he did not intend that it be issued at this time. Its issuance now in his name appears to have been the result of a misunderstanding," Flynn attorneys Robert Kelner and Stephen Anthony said in a statement to CNN.

A statement on Tuesday from the firm Stonington Global LLC said Flynn was joining the nascent group as director of global strategy.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/10/politics/michael-flynn-consulting-job-stonington-russia-investigation/index.html

Which I think means: he has agreed to join them, but his lawyers realise how fucking bad this looks to announce it before he's been sentenced, so they are weaseling out with "he hasn't started work yet".