Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn contacted at least one member of Congress who vocally criticized Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE even as Flynn cooperated with the special counsel’s investigation.
Flynn sent Twitter direct messages to Rep. Matt GaetzMatthew (Matt) GaetzGOP Mueller critic says Flynn contacted him during special counsel probe: report 2020 Dem Seth Moulton calls for expanding cannabis access for veterans Hillicon Valley: Trump takes flak for not joining anti-extremism pact | Phone carriers largely end sharing of location data | Huawei pushes back on ban | Florida lawmakers demand to learn counties hacked by Russians | Feds bust 0M cybercrime group MORE (R-Fla.) to encourage him to “keep the pressure on,” according to messages obtained by CNN. It is unclear if Flynn communicated with any other lawmaker.
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“You stay on top of what you’re doing. Your leadership is so vital for our country now. Keep the pressure on,” Flynn wrote in an April 2018 message to Gaetz, one of the most vocal supporters of President TrumpDonald John TrumpComey: Barr is ‘sliming his own department’ GOP Mueller critic says Flynn contacted him during special counsel probe: report Acting DHS secretary threatened to quit after clashing with Miller: report MORE who also hammered Mueller during his nearly two-year long probe into Russian election interference.
Gaetz went on Fox Business the same day Flynn messaged him and bashed the Department of Justice.
“We’ve got to play a far stronger role in exposing the hypocrisy at the Department of Justice,” Gaetz said in the April 3, 2018, appearance. “With no evidence of collusion, with no evidence of any crime whatsoever, they unleashed Bob Mueller to go investigate things that happened before Donald Trump was even contemplating running for president.”
Flynn also messaged Gaetz last February GIFs of a bald eagle and an American flag without any text, according to CNN.
Gaetz confirmed to CNN that he obtained the messages but did not respond, adding that he did not have a prior relationship with Flynn.
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The messages add to an existing narrative that even while Flynn cooperated with Mueller, he stoked conservative broadsides against him.
Reports surfaced Thursday that Flynn told Mueller that “persons connected to the administration or Congress” had contacted him to try to influence his willingness to cooperate with the special counsel, raising further questions if Trump or any associates sought to obstruct justice.