Cia And Flynn: Lawbreaking And The Intelligence Agency

The question of whether the CIA broke the law in its treatment of General Michael Flynn has been the subject of much debate and speculation. Flynn, a retired United States Army lieutenant general, briefly served as the National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump before resigning amidst reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and others about the nature of his communications with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. This incident sparked controversy and led to investigations into Flynn's conduct. While some have accused the CIA of unlawfully targeting Flynn due to his criticism of the agency, the extent of the CIA's involvement in the matter is unclear. Flynn's case also brought attention to the Logan Act, an 18th-century law prohibiting private citizens from unauthorized negotiations with foreign governments. However, the Logan Act has never been successfully used to prosecute an American citizen. Ultimately, Flynn pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI but received a presidential pardon from Trump in 2020, bringing an end to the legal proceedings against him.

Did Flynn break the law by discussing sanctions with the Russian ambassador?

On 29 December 2016, the same day that President Obama levied sanctions against 35 Russian intelligence operatives in retaliation for Russian interference in the 2016 US election, National Security Advisor Michael Flynn phoned Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak "several times".

While there is nothing criminal about the incoming National Security Advisor having conversations with foreign officials, Flynn had initially denied discussing sanctions with Kislyak. He was later forced to resign when information surfaced that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and others about the nature and content of his communications with Kislyak.

Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to "willfully and knowingly" making false statements to the FBI about the Kislyak communications. However, he later reversed his guilty plea, and in 2020, President Trump pardoned him.

Did the CIA influence Flynn's resignation?

It is unclear whether the CIA influenced Michael Flynn's resignation. However, there is evidence to suggest that Flynn's resignation may have been, at least in part, a result of his contacts with Russian officials, particularly Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the United States.

Flynn resigned from his position as National Security Advisor to President Trump in February 2017, after it was revealed that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and others about the nature and content of his communications with Kislyak. Specifically, Flynn had discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia with Kislyak before Trump took office, which may have violated the Logan Act - a law that prohibits private citizens from negotiating with foreign powers in disputes with the United States.

While the CIA's role in Flynn's resignation is not explicitly mentioned in the sources provided, it is worth noting that Flynn was a critic of the agency and had a history of clashing with CIA officials. Additionally, the CIA has been accused of breaking the law to take out Flynn, suggesting that there may have been some level of involvement or influence from the agency in his resignation. However, without further evidence, it is difficult to determine the extent of the CIA's influence, if any, on Flynn's decision to step down.

Did the CIA break the law by targeting Flynn?

The question of whether the CIA broke the law by targeting Michael Flynn, a retired United States Army lieutenant general, remains a subject of debate and speculation. While some sources assert that the CIA acted unlawfully in its handling of the matter, the specifics of the alleged lawbreaking are not entirely clear.

Michael Flynn's involvement with Russia came under scrutiny during the early days of the Trump administration, where he served briefly as the National Security Advisor. Reports emerged that Flynn had discussions with the Russian ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, which raised concerns about potential violations of the Logan Act. This 18th-century law prohibits private citizens from negotiating with foreign powers in disputes involving the United States. However, the applicability of the Logan Act to Flynn's case is questionable, as he was part of the transition team and about to assume a position in the incoming administration.

The controversy surrounding Flynn centred on his communications with Kislyak regarding U.S. sanctions on Russia. It was alleged that Flynn urged Kislyak to have Russia respond in a "reciprocal" manner to the sanctions and not escalate the situation. These communications were intercepted by U.S. intelligence agencies, and Flynn was accused of misleading Vice President Mike Pence and other administration officials about the nature of these conversations.

Flynn initially denied discussing sanctions with Kislyak but later admitted to providing false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about the nature of their conversations. He pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to the FBI as part of a plea deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. However, he later attempted to withdraw his guilty plea, claiming that the government acted in bad faith and breached the plea agreement.

Ultimately, the case against Flynn was dismissed without any convictions in December 2020 following a presidential pardon by President Trump. While the CIA's role in the investigation and targeting of Flynn is not entirely clear, the controversy surrounding his brief tenure as National Security Advisor and his interactions with Russian officials sparked intense political debates and legal proceedings.

Did the CIA break the law by interfering in the 2016 election?

The CIA, alongside other U.S. intelligence agencies, concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election to boost Donald Trump's bid for the White House. The CIA determined that individuals linked to Moscow stole Democratic party emails and gave them to WikiLeaks. The CIA assessment found that Russia's goal was to favour one candidate over the other, to help Trump get elected.

The Internet Research Agency (IRA), based in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and described as a troll farm, created thousands of social media accounts that purported to be Americans supporting radical political groups and planned or promoted events in support of Trump and against Clinton. They reached millions of social media users between 2013 and 2017.

In 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE) for carrying out influence operations targeting the U.S. 2024 general election. The CGE is a subsidiary of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran and was directed by the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU).

Did the CIA break the law by colluding with Trump?

The sources I found do not provide enough information to determine whether or not the CIA broke the law by colluding with Trump. However, I can provide some information on the case of Michael Flynn, a retired US Lieutenant General who served as National Security Advisor during the first 22 days of the Trump administration.

Flynn's resignation in February 2017 came after reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and others about the nature of his communications with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Specifically, Flynn had discussed US sanctions against Russia with Kislyak before Trump took office, which may have violated the Logan Act. The Logan Act is a federal law from 1799 that calls for the fine or imprisonment of private citizens who attempt to intervene without authorization in disputes between the US and foreign governments. However, it has never been used to successfully prosecute an American citizen.

After his resignation, Flynn pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, in May 2020, the Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss the charge, asserting that they no longer believed they could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Flynn had made false statements. This motion was opposed by US District Judge Emmet Sullivan, who appointed an amicus to prepare an argument against dismissal. In November 2020, Flynn received a presidential pardon from Trump, and the case was ultimately dismissed as moot.

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