Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday accused Attorney General William Barr of trying to “cover up” for President Trump in dropping the case against his former national security adviser Michael Flynn for charges of lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia.
“Attorney General Barr’s politicization of justice knows no bounds,” Pelosi said in a statement.
“Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators in the face of overwhelming evidence – but now, Attorney General Barr’s Justice Department is dropping the case to continue to cover up for the President,” she added.
Flynn had previously pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia during the presidential transition in 2016. Flynn later moved to withdraw his guilty plea and has been fighting the charges.
In a court filing on Thursday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said it was moving to drop its case against Flynn, saying it was no longer sure it could make its case.
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe noted in a statement that the DOJ’s new position contradicts the findings by both former special counsel Robert Mueller and the Office of the Inspector General.
“Overruling the Special Counsel is without precedent and without respect for the rule of law,” Pelosi said.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) called the move “outrageous” and demanded an “immediate explanation,” pledging to summon Barr to the Capitol.
“Rest assured, we are going to reschedule that hearing, ASAP, and demand answers!” Nadler tweeted.
On Thursday, Trump told reporters that he was pleased to hear the DOJ’s decision and wanted people “to pay a big price” for prosecuting his former adviser.
“He was an innocent man,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday afternoon. “He is a great gentleman. He was targeted by the Obama administration and he was targeted in order to try and take down a president, and what they’ve done is a disgrace, and I hope a big price is going to be paid.”