A senior Clinton campaign lawyer was acquitted Tuesday over allegations he lied to the FBI regarding Donald Trump’s relationship with Russian officials and other foreign entities.
“The case was the first courtroom test of special counsel John Durham since his appointment three years ago to search for government misconduct during the investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 campaign. The verdict represents a setback for Durham’s work, especially since Trump supporters had looked to the probe to expose what they contend was sweeping wrongdoing by the FBI,” reports the Associated Press.
Michael Sussmann, who offered damaging allegations about Trump in 2016, acquitted of lying to FBI https://t.co/8t58Z9szjH
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 31, 2022
It seems Sussmann did exactly what people should do when they learn of activities by a hostile foreign adversary like Russia — report it to the FBI. Whether he came forward “on his own” is immaterial because his ties to Hillary Clinton were well-known. https://t.co/NFL7ZyAeHS
— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) May 23, 2022
JUST IN: Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann was acquitted of lying to the FBI, in the 1st trial of special counsel John Durham’s investigation. The verdict is a major defeat for Durham, who has spent 3+ years looking for misconduct related to the Trump-Russia probes.
— Marshall Cohen (@MarshallCohen) May 31, 2022
“The trial focused on whether Sussmann, a cybersecurity attorney and former federal prosecutor, concealed from the FBI that he was representing Clinton’s campaign when he presented computer data that he said showed a possible secret backchannel between Russia-based Alfa Bank and Trump’s business company, the Trump Organization. The FBI investigated but quickly determined that there was no suspicious contact,” adds the outlet.