Isn’t Karma a bitch? It was only Day 70 of Donald Trump’s reign when the House Intelligence Committee got its first immunity request. Gen. Michael Flynn, the former National Security Advisor to Trump, through his lawyer, asked for personal immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony. The first line of his lawyer’s letter began “General Flynn certainly has a story to tell”. With a line like that, it’s closer to something a writer would use to get his reader’s attention and not legalese.
The Wall Street Journal broke the immunity request; the New York Times identified two of the three White House staffers who shared classified intelligence with Devin Nunes (R-CA). The Washington Post has identified all three staffers. They work for the NSC.
Another surprise is Darrell Issa. He thinks we need a Special Prosecutor and an Independent Commission. Nunes may have to step down; there are plenty of calls. Sen. Mark Warner (D-CA) and Sen. Richard Burr (R-CA) — Senate Intelligence Committee co-chairs — and the FBI have also received immunity request.
Nunes said his loyalty is to the Speaker and to Trump. Members of the House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Mark Meadows, Rep. Jim Jordan and Rep. Raul Labrador say their loyalty is to their constituents, not to Trump or the Speaker, and Rep. Jordan says of the White House “That’s the swamp. It’s not a hot tub.” John McCain says “There are more shoes to drop from this caterpillar.”
Stay tuned!