Post by ck4829 on Mar 26, 2022 13:02:51 GMT
A federal judge has again granted a new trial to Michael Flynn’s former business partner, Bijan Rafiekian, saying the evidence was stronger that Flynn himself was a foreign agent of the Turkish government.
Rafiekian was convicted at trial in Alexandria federal court in 2019 of illegally lobbying for Turkey while working at the Flynn Intel Group. But U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga concluded that the evidence against Rafiekian was too weak and threw out the jury verdict. Flynn was set to testify against Rafiekian, after admitting in D.C. federal court that he lied to the FBI. But Flynn withdrew that plea, and prosecutors did not call him to the stand; he was ultimately pardoned by President Donald Trump.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit last year overturned an earlier ruling from Trenga that called for a new trial. A three-judge panel said he had ordered a new trial without enough justification.
On Friday, Trenga said he had reviewed the case again and come to the same conclusion.
Read more: www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/if-anyone-was-a-turkish-agent-it-was-michael-flynn-not-business-partner-judge-says/ar-AAVv9fI
Rafiekian was convicted at trial in Alexandria federal court in 2019 of illegally lobbying for Turkey while working at the Flynn Intel Group. But U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga concluded that the evidence against Rafiekian was too weak and threw out the jury verdict. Flynn was set to testify against Rafiekian, after admitting in D.C. federal court that he lied to the FBI. But Flynn withdrew that plea, and prosecutors did not call him to the stand; he was ultimately pardoned by President Donald Trump.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit last year overturned an earlier ruling from Trenga that called for a new trial. A three-judge panel said he had ordered a new trial without enough justification.
On Friday, Trenga said he had reviewed the case again and come to the same conclusion.
Read more: www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/if-anyone-was-a-turkish-agent-it-was-michael-flynn-not-business-partner-judge-says/ar-AAVv9fI