president trump can pardon michael flynn, he couldn t pardon him from state crimes that he might be exposed to. they could use that for leverage, as well, potentially. that brings me to another question i have been wondering about with flynn s deal. we got a great question from a viewer named jim who wrote and said why would a defendant agree to a plea deal that flynn did? it doesn t really protect him from much. and i think what jim is getting at there is what is in the plea deal, what s in the statement of the offense and everything is not very much information. and maybe that means they don t have very much on flynn but it s my understanding that at least in some jurisdictions, when you get a guilty plea, you layout every single thing you got expect them and expect the agreements to be juicy. this was very thin. even if you don t write out in the plea agreement everything the person admitted to. let s take a step back. when this conversation happens between flynn or someone in
remove his obligation to give testimonyicide he be subpoenaed. in terms of him testifying i know the calculus mike flynn might have might change for him if he s pardoned. if he knows they can t prosecute him for anything anymore. would he end up testifying? he s already given them information. would it effect the value of that testimony? i say two things about that. one is you can compelhim to testify and require him to answer questions. but when somebody is being compell compelled, it s very different than with they have an incentive to operate. they could be connecting the dots for you. if if had stead you ve got to pull teeth you might get yes, no answers. the other wrinkle is even if it president trump can pardon michael flynn, he couldn t pardon him from any state crimes he might be exposed to.
testimony should he be subpoenaed. in terms of him testifying, i know that the calculus that mike flynn might have about continuing to cooperate with the government might change for him if he s pardoned if he knows they can t prosecute him anymore. would he end up testifying? he s already given them information. they want to put him on the stand. can they still put him on the stand? would it affect the value of that testimony? two things about that. one is, you can compel him to testify and require him to answer questions, but i think when somebody is being compelled, it s very different than if they have an incentive to cooperate. in that scenario, they would be volunteering information, suggesting leads, connecting the dots for you. if instead, you got to pull teeth to answer questions, you ll get yes, no answers. he ll answer the questions, but the other wrinkle here is, even if president trump can pardon michael flynn, he couldn t pardon him from any state crimes