By The FirstSpecial Counsel John Durham’s team launched into their opening arguments Tuesday into the shady origins of the Russia-Trump conspiracy hoax, with prosecutors claiming a lawyer for Hillary Clinton used the FBI to damage the Republican candidate.
From Fox News:
Sussmann is charged with making a false statement to the FBI when he told former FBI General Counsel James Baker in September 2016 — less than two months before the presidential election — that he was not doing work “for any client” when he requested and attended a meeting with Baker where he presented “purported data and ‘white papers’ that allegedly demonstrated a covert communicates channel” between the Trump Organization and Alfa Bank, which has ties to the Kremlin.
Durham’s team alleges Sussmann was, in fact, doing work for two clients: the Hillary Clinton campaign and a technology executive, Rodney Joffe. Following the meeting with Baker, Sussmann billed the Hillary Clinton campaign for his work.
Sussmann has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Federal prosecutor Deborah Brittain Shaw delivered the government’s opening argument, saying the case is one “about privilege.”
“Privilege of a lawyer who thought he could lie to the FBI without consequences; privilege of a lawyer who thought that for the powerful, normal rules didn’t apply,” Shaw argued on behalf of the government.
