The president is right to double down on defending former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and to insist that he didn't lie to the FBI, Rep. Darrell Issa said Friday.
"Something smells really bad in this investigation," the California Republican told Fox News' "America's Newsroom," adding that is why U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan ordered Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office to turn over all documents obtained from Flynn's interview with the FBI.
The important thing is whether Flynn was "squeezed," making him plea to something he didn't actually do, Issa said.
"The truth is, that's wrongdoing from the special prosecutor and I think Judge Sullivan, who is no-nonsense, will hold them accountable for playing fast and loose with an investigation that doesn't seem to have ever gotten to collusion, collusion not being a legal term," said Issa.
However, prosecutors have an "amazing amount of power" they can use to "distort outcome, cut deals on reduced sentences for people who may or may not have done anything wrong," said Issa. "In fact, we as civil libertarians should be extremely concerned from the left and the right."
Meanwhile, Issa said he does not think Mueller is bothered by the fact his interview is "running on empty," as he thinks he has an "open checkbook."
"Remember, his powers are not that much greater than any U.S. attorneys,'" said Issa. "What is different is he doesn't have another caseload. He gets to go anywhere and spend as much as he needs to spend on what he looks at as a broad investigation."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.