Intel Dem: Innocent people don’t seek immunity

Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell (Calif.), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said he’s not interested in granting former national security adviser Michael Flynn any conditions in exchange for testimony on potential Russian interference in the U.S. election.

“Sounds like a guy that wants immunity, and generally innocent people don’t seek immunity,” Swalwell said on “CNN Tonight.”

“I don’t want to hear from him in a setting where there are conditions. I think we should hear from him in the public and that we should get to the bottom of just exactly why he was working with RT, who as a former intelligence agency director, he above all people knows that that agency is connected to Russia’s intelligence services,” Swalwell continued.

Flynn received $56,250 in payments for work done for two Russian firms and Kremlin-backed news outlet RT.

{mosads}Flynn reportedly told the FBI and the House and Senate Intelligence committees that he is willing to testify about President Trump’s campaign’s potential ties to Russia in exchange for immunity from prosecution, as reported by The Wall Street Journal Thursday.

Flynn’s lawyer said in a statement, “General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit.” 

“No reasonable person, who has the benefit of advice from counsel, would submit to questioning in such a highly politicized, witch hunt environment without assurances against unfair prosecution,” lawyer Robert Kelner said.