White House Punts On When Trump Knew That Michael Flynn Lied To FBI

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

The White House on Thursday again pointed reporters to the President’s attorney for questions about when President Donald Trump knew that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn lied to the FBI.

When asked why questions about when Trump knew that information should be considered a legal matter, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump’s attorneys “feel this is a question that should be answered by them” and claimed she’d ask Trump’s attorney John Dowd to respond to reporters about the topic.

When pressed again about why it’s a legal matter, Sanders said she’s “going to listen to the attorneys on this one.”

“John Dowd will hopefully follow up with you in short order,” she said.

After Flynn was charged with one count of lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials while working for Trump’s transition team, Trump initially said the charges proved that there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia. He later tweeted that he fired Flynn because he lied to Vice President Mike Pence and the FBI, an admission that could characterize his request to then-FBI Director James Comey to drop the case against Flynn as obstruction of justice.

The White House later claimed that one of Trump’s lawyers erroneously wrote the tweet, not the President. 

17
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for sjk sjk says:

    Keep asking that same question, every day. Until we have an answer. Make her bring the attorney out.

    1. The White House says Donald Trump’s tweets are official statements.
    2. Donald Trump tweeted that he knew Flynn lied to the FBI when Trump asked Flynn for his resignation.
    3. Therefore either:
      a) The White House says Trump knew at the time Flynn resigned.
      b) The White House says Trump lied in an official White House statement.

    This is not rocket science.

  2. Avatar for trnc trnc says:

    When pressed again about why it’s a legal matter, Sanders said she’s “going to listen to the attorneys on this one.”

    “John Dowd will hopefully follow up with you in short order,” she said.

    Great. Based on precedent, Dowd will probably provide yet one more item to his disbarment evidence list.

  3. You realize they have been getting really quiet in the last few days. Don Jr. and Prince with their non-answers and do not recalls coupled with dismissive arrogance. There is a lot of distraction out there, but keep your eye on the ball.

  4. Then it will become that attorney client thing.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

11 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for kendyzdad Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for imkmu3 Avatar for epicurus Avatar for trnc Avatar for noparty Avatar for mike_in_houston Avatar for sanni Avatar for leftcoaster Avatar for tena Avatar for sjk Avatar for professorpoopypants Avatar for uneducated Avatar for justruss

Continue Discussion