"We Need to Put This Partisanship Behind Us And Move On"

Michael Flynn’s words when he pled guilty: "I recognize that the actions I acknowledged in court today were wrong, and, through my faith in God, I am working to set things right.” https://t.co/vKpTrQicn7 pic.twitter.com/0eRzfN1jRV

— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) May 7, 2020

This is stunning. Barr is doing Trump's pardoning for him. This.would.not.happen.for.ordinairy.Americans. https://t.co/xq7AKc0K7a

— Mimi Rocah (@Mimirocah1) May 7, 2020

This moment represents the full collapse of an apolitical Justice Department. An astonishing assault on the rule of law and in a functional DOJ it would prompt mass resignation. https://t.co/SBa8Ubl5NN

— Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) May 7, 2020

Another very highly respected DOJ attorney withdrawing from a case, this one about Michael Flynn. Something is deeply wrong. https://t.co/aPHtYWzsnp

— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) May 7, 2020

And if something is not done by this time next year to repudiate this kind of action with the full force of law, then we will forever after be a government of men, not of laws.

AG Barr is Trump's new fixer. No need to take the political hit to pardon your friend when your fixer can do the dirty work for you.

Sad day for DOJ.

— Orin Kerr (@OrinKerr) May 7, 2020

Remember when "Poppy" pardoned everyone who could incriminate him in Iran/Contra on the way out the door? Poppy was a Sunday school teacher asking the children to play quietly.

(I am left wondering, since Flynn already entered a guilty plea, what power the court has in this to commit Flynn to prison with or without the cooperation of the DOJ.  It's a court order now, not a request to prosecute, or a withdrawal of that request.)

William Barr’s Justice Department (but not the prosecutors on the case) told a federal judge it doesn’t believe it can prove a charge that Mike Flynn HAS ADMITTED TO IN OPEN COURT.

— Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) May 7, 2020

I know non-lawyers think this is very persuasive:

Hey Fusion Ken - I realize you're too busy to actually read DOJ's brief, but they explain this in pretty simple language pic.twitter.com/92R2D2FZ9t

— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) May 7, 2020

But to real lawyers and federal judges, it's utter bullshit.  What has been disclosed establishes nothing that benefits Michael Flynn or obviates his guilty plea.

I'm still wondering how much power the court has to say:  "Nope.  It's over.  I'm gonna proceed with sentencing."