# This Michael Flynn guy just can't stop committing treason **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 13, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770 "2017-02-13T19:21:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/41 "2017-02-13T21:20:39Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Yes. I’m trying to get a sense if you think that using words constitutes giving “aid and comfort.” Hey, thanks for your “help,” but you can stop “helping” now. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/42 "2017-02-13T21:31:34Z")
Is there an actually definition of “enemy” re: treason? I suppose Congress declared war on them that’s pretty obvious but what about the President doing so under the War Powers Act? Was the Soviet Union legally out enemy during the Cold War? Are non-government organizations such as ISIS an “enemy” for the purposes of treason? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/43 "2017-02-13T21:37:37Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Hey, thanks for your “help,” but you can stop “helping” now. Oh, are you feeling “all better” now? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/44 "2017-02-14T02:36:56Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Oh, are you feeling “all better” now? It’s funny how you keep being a condescending ass when you didn’t help in the slightest. **Bricker** resolved the situation in two posts. The guy already admitted that it wasn’t (legally) treason. Your “help” was at least as much about being an ass, and so the guy responded to you negatively. Just like I know you are now going to probably attack me. If you can’t take someone being an ass to you, then don’t be an ass to them. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/45 "2017-02-14T03:06:56Z")
Good lord, it’s the Pit. Lighten up. ---
**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/46 "2017-02-14T03:32:05Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Good lord, it’s the Pit. Lighten up. Seriously - in the Pit??? What a quandry… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/47 "2017-02-14T04:09:45Z")
> [@Ionizer](#): > > Seriously - in the Pit??? What a quandry… 🙂 Whenever I read the word “quandry” on the Dope, I’m always waiting for a certain person to talk about tossing items towards it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/48 "2017-02-14T04:20:33Z")
[Flynn resigns amid controversy over Russia contacts](http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/13/politics/michael-flynn-white-house-national-security-adviser/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/49 "2017-02-14T04:23:04Z")
Flynn just reisgned. [“Michael Flynn, Trump’s embattled national security adviser, resigns amid controversy over communication with Russian ambassador”](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/02/13/michael-flynn-trumps-embattled-national-security-adviser-resigns-amid-controversy-over-communication-with-russian-ambassador/) > [@](#): > > The resignation, which was confirmed by a White House official, comes after reports that Flynn had misled the vice president by saying he did not discuss sanctions with the Russian ambassador. The Justice Department had warned the Trump administration that the situation left Flynn potentially vulnerable to blackmail, current and former U.S. officials said. > > This is a developing story. It will be updated. Quoting the whole thing, because this is all there is right now in the Washington Post. Ninja’d! ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/50 "2017-02-14T04:30:30Z")
Politico has more, including this gem: > [@](#): > > In a bid to save his position, one West Wing source said Flynn had been in “full groveling mode,” hoping a show of contrition may enable him to survive, especially if “a suitable replacement doesn’t emerge quickly.” I’ll bet Trump’s the kind of guy who loves it when they beg for their life before he shoots them in the temple. Actually, with an asshole like Flynn, it really is a delicious bit of plot development. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/51 "2017-02-14T04:36:04Z")
Well, one less poisonous well of information in the White House. Unfortunately, Trump and Bannon are still there. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/52 "2017-02-14T04:42:17Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Right you are, espionage it is: > > Espionage. Espionage is obtaining classified information pertaining to national defense for use by a foreign nation. If the defendant aids a U.S. ally, treason can’t be the charge, but espionage can. I don’t think espionage is an appropriate charge either. Flynn was National Security Adviser; I’m assuming he had legal access to the information he passed on. So the crime wouldn’t be in obtaining the classified information but in passing it on without authorization. So the appropriate charge would be [Disclosure of Classified Information](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/798). He might also be looking at [Gathering, transmitting or losing defense information](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/793) and [Gathering or delivering defense information to aid foreign government](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/794). ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/53 "2017-02-14T05:11:36Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > [Flynn resigns amid controversy over Russia contacts](http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/13/politics/michael-flynn-white-house-national-security-adviser/index.html) I went to take a dump. Come back to check this site & this good news greets me. How fitting. Now if we can flush the rest of the crap out of the White House, that would be huuuge. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/54 "2017-02-14T05:12:39Z")
So is it going to go to pillow talker Petraeus? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/55 "2017-02-14T05:21:19Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > So is it going to go to pillow talker Petraeus? If Trump was smart he would keep Kellogg, but since he is not… I hope the last staffer that talks to him is a smart one. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/56 "2017-02-14T05:22:57Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I went to take a dump. Come back to check this site & this good news greets me. How fitting. Now if we can flush the rest of the crap out of the White House, that would be huuuge. Well, get back on that shitter. Let’s see what else plops. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/57 "2017-02-14T05:33:00Z")
> **[White House was warned Flynn could be blackmailed by Russia | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2017/02/13/politics/michael-flynn-justice-department-warning/index.html)** > > The Justice Department warned the Trump administration last month that Michael Flynn misled administration officials regarding his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States and was potentially vulnerable to blackmail by the... The video clip entitled, “Spicer: Trump is evaluating Fllynn situation”, at 2:04. There’s a man on Sean Spicer’s right, and a woman on his left. Both of them have a look of of fear and dread fixed on their faces. Who are these two? Do they report to Spicer? Some other cabinet member? ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/58 "2017-02-14T05:40:21Z")
I sense a new expression in the offing. “Out like Flynn.” ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/59 "2017-02-14T05:43:03Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > I sense a new expression in the offing. “Out like Flynn.” Bravo! ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770/60 "2017-02-14T06:14:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I don’t think espionage is an appropriate charge either. **Flynn was National Security Adviser** ; I’m assuming he had legal access to the information he passed on. So the crime wouldn’t be in obtaining the classified information but in passing it on without authorization. So the appropriate charge would be [Disclosure of Classified Information](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/798). He might also be looking at [Gathering, transmitting or losing defense information](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/793) and [Gathering or delivering defense information to aid foreign government](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/794). re: the bolded section, he wasn’t at the time, he was just an aide to Trump. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-michael-flynn-guy-just-cant-stop-committing-treason/779770.md?page=4)