Tucker Carlson: Flynn case was domestic spying operation ‘hidden under the pretext of national security’

Tucker Carlson is calling the unmasking of Michael Flynn a “domestic spying operation” that was “hidden under the pretext of national security,” with the Fox News host asking viewers to imagine a similar scenario involving an outgoing Trump administration and a high-ranking member of an incoming Democratic administration.

“This was a domestic spying operation. That’s what it was. It was hidden under the pretext of national security. Once you see the details, that’s very clear,” Carlson said late Wednesday. “Plenty of the 39 people who saw Flynn’s name and ‘unmasked’ him had no reason to know his name. They were not national security officials. They were political hacks. And that’s not an exaggeration.”

Carlson proceeded to ask what the reaction would be if the Trump administration conducted itself in similar fashion.

“That might be a legitimate reason to impeach him,” Carlson said. “We would not defend that on this show. That’s for sure. It would be indefensible. And so is this.”

Flynn, President Trump’s first national security adviser, was convicted of lying to FBI agents about his communications with the Russian ambassador in a case stemming from former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Moscow. The Department of Justice earlier this month moved to drop its case against Flynn after documents emerged fueling conservative claims that agents set out to entrap the retired three-star Army general.

Carlson’s perspective comes after acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell sent top Republican senators a list of dozens of former Obama administration officials who reportedly requested documents that led to Flynn being “unmasked” from intelligence reports between the 2016 presidential election and Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2017.

A copy of the list, later obtained by The Hill, includes presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, former Obama White House chief of staff Denis McDonough, former CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former FBI Director James Comey.

“Biden asked to uncover Mike Flynn’s name on January 12th, [2017]. That was just a week, eight days before Donald Trump took office,” Carlson noted Wednesday evening. “What official justification could Biden possibly have had for doing that? He must have given some reason. He had to.”

Biden initially told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in an interview that aired earlier Wednesday that he knew nothing of the Flynn investigation before conceding he was aware after being pressed.

“I know nothing about those moves to investigate Michael Flynn,” Biden first said before the “Good Morning America” anchor asked if he attended an Oval Office meeting during which Flynn reportedly was discussed.

“No, I thought you asked me whether or not I had anything to do with him being prosecuted,” the former vice president stated. “I’m sorry.”

“I was aware that there was — that they asked for an investigation, but that’s all I know about it, and I don’t think anything else.”

Carlson concluded his monologue by calling for Obama administration officials involved in the Flynn case to be punished.

“These amoral creeps destroyed Michael Flynn’s life and reputation and family,” the host later concluded. “They should be punished for that.”

Trump on Thursday called on Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to “stop playing Mr. Nice Guy” and call on former President Obama to testify.

“If I were a Senator or Congressman, the first person I would call to testify about the biggest political crime and scandal in the history of the USA, by FAR, is former President Obama,” Trump tweeted. “He knew EVERYTHING.”

“Do it @LindseyGrahamSC, just do it,” the president continued. “No more Mr. Nice Guy. No more talk!”

If I were a Senator or Congressman, the first person I would call to testify about the biggest political crime and scandal in the history of the USA, by FAR, is former President Obama. He knew EVERYTHING. Do it @LindseyGrahamSC, just do it. No more Mr. Nice Guy. No more talk!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 14, 2020

Graham responded by saying while he understood the president’s frustration, he doesn’t “think now’s the time for me to do that.”

Asked Graham about this tweet just now. He reiterated that he’s not going to call in Obama.

“I don’t think now’s the time for me to do that. I don’t know if that’s even possible.”

He added:

“I understand President Trump’s frustration, but be careful what you wish for.” https://t.co/B5LVPcznJR

— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) May 14, 2020