Former Trump adviser Flynn to turn over some documents subpoenaed by Senate panel - source

[webfact]

Former Trump adviser Flynn to turn over some documents subpoenaed by Senate panel - source

REUTERS

 

FILE PHOTO: Then White House National Security Advisor Michael Flynn walks down the White House colonnade on the way to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump's joint news conference at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 10, 2017. REUTERS/Jim Bourg/Files

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has told the Senate Intelligence Committee he will begin turning over some documents subpoenaed by the panel, according to a government source familiar with the matter.

 

Flynn's representatives told the committee in an email on Tuesday that they would start turning over some subpoenaed documents in time to meet a deadline set by the panel, and that more documents will be turned over later.

 

The committee, which is investigating alleged Russian interference in last year's U.S. presidential election, issued subpoenas to two of Flynn's businesses after Flynn had declined to comply with a subpoena issued to him personally.

 

(Reporting by Mark Hosenball; Editing by Tim Ahmann)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-05-31

[darksidedog]

You have to feel uneasy when documents are at first refused and then promised in dribs and drabs. If there is nothing to hide, there should be no reason why they are not all handed over in one go, immediately. And that in itself, probably explains the delay.

[smotherb]

Well, I think there is little doubt there was interaction between Trump's people and the Russians, but how much and to what end? I can see of no legitimate reason why Trump or his people would fight an investigation if they are innocent. More importantly, I do not understand how any patriotic American would NOT want to see the results of a full investigation into that interaction.

Edited May 31, 2017 by smotherb
typo edit

[Trouble]

I think there are four separate investigations going on at the moment.  All but Mueller's have been going on for months now.  None of this is rocket science.  The two congressional investigations are of course only for show as congressional investigations notoriously take forever to come to any conclusion and they are all about a few members of Congress getting news coverage.  As a former investigator for the Department of Defense, it is pretty difficult for me to understand why it is all taking so long.  The FBI investigation should have been completed ages ago.  With all the investigative resources available they seem to be lost in a quagmire of possible directions.  The investigation is of course now taken on many aspects but the basic questions are these:

 

Did Flynn have discussions with the Russians and what was the nature of those discussions?

 

Did Flynn accept any money from the Russians and the Turks for services rendered and what exactly were those services.?  Was there ever any classified information discussed which should not have been disclosed?

 

Did Flynn omit information on his clearance forms and was it intentional or not?

 

Did Kushner have meetings with the Russians and discuss anything classified with the Russians? If not there is no issue. Trying to start a dialogue with the Russians is something that would be desired to see if there are areas where cooperation is possible.

 

Has Kushner had business dealing with the Russians that would in any way put him in a bad position with regard to his current work?

 

As for collusion, there are only so many people who would have had opportunity to speak with the Russians to begin with.  It is a finite number.  Call them in for interviews and get it over with.  If the FBI has proof of collusion better bring it forward, get the interviews done, and complete the damn investigation.  They could have interviewed everyone in the Trump campaign by now. The government spy agencies either have evidence to present or they don't.

 

It is a sad state of affairs when it seems that in order for the President or his aides like Kushner to talk to Russian, Chinese, Mexican, or Philippine leaders. they might have to have some kind of back channels for fear of the intelligence agencies listening in on the conversations and then reporting them to the press.  

 

Certainly no one can talk on the phone or use email anymore.  Sending letters through drop boxes might make a comeback.