Innocent people do not require pardons.
@XaoslordErie They don't need to take the fifth either.
@Florence No, they sure don't.
@XaoslordErie @Florence Ehh...sometimes they do.
Pleading the Fifth is a tactical move that is useful in a lot of situations (like if you need to get the defense to lay off your client's reputation and focus on the elements of the effing crime already). It doesn't automatically indicate the pleader has something relevant to hide.
Source: am lawyer
@danialexis @XaoslordErie Yep, I get that. But if you're asked 'Do you believe in the peaceful transfer of power?' and you're an American General, and you say 'I plead the fifth', I think we're entitled to draw our own conclusions. Especially if you actively were involved in an insurrection!
@Florence @danialexis @XaoslordErie Given that taking the Fifth explicitly means you are refusing to testify because you believe that testimony would be used as evidence against you, criminally, (and your lawyer agrees!), yeah, I think we can draw one or more unpatriotic conclusions about Flynn.
@Attilisk @Florence @XaoslordErie It's just such a weird thing to say in response to "do you believe in a peaceful transition of power?"
Like, not *believing* in something isn't a crime. Unless there's some UCMJ thing here I don't know about. But generally, believing in some general principle (or not) is not itself criminal.
At best it hints toward motive for some other action, but we can figure out his motives from the public record.
@danialexis @Attilisk @XaoslordErie I know what you're saying is correct, legally it's spot on. But I'm not a lawyer so am speaking for a country! For the emotion so many of us feel, especailly perhaps those of us who have served, at the way he has used his 'rank' to this terrible end. xx
@danialexis
Well, it's not like they care. If they did, they'd not have been insurrectionists in the first place. But for a military man to insult the service of myself and all those who came before and after ... that's appalling.
@danialexis Yes! You just summed up my own feelings perfectly! xx
@Florence @Attilisk @XaoslordErie I'm with you on that.
Like - as a lawyer, pleading the Fifth there is weird to me.
As an American, pleading the Fifth there appalls me. How DARE you, sir. This is our NATION you're talking about.