Remember Michael Flynn, frantic to retract two guilty pleas, as aided by the DoJ’s decision, made after the ascension of William Barr to Attorney General, to discontinue their prosecution of Flynn for lying to the FBI?
It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon. Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2020
My question is this: can someone be preemptively pardoned when the trial hasn’t terminated? I mean, pleading guilty sounds like the end, but he had not yet been sentenced, and with his attempt to withdraw his guilty pleas, it sounds like he’s now going to admit to being guilty anyways, even if it’s forced on him by Trump’s action.
If it’s valid.
I wonder if Flynn could file to repudiate the granting of the pardon as invalid as he’s not, in his pleadings, no longer guilty.
In any case, Trump just looks a little bit more corrupt. I wonder how Judge Sullivan will react. I would be deeply surprised if it’s not with complete contempt for Trump.
