Michael Flynn pleads guilty to lying to the f.b.i. Flynn was an early supporter and advisor to Donald Trump She admits he lied about contacts he had with the Russian ambassador to the United States today is Friday December 1st and this is All Things Considered from n.p.r. News. I'm Robert Siegel and I'm Kelly McEvers special counsel Robert Muller's office says Flynn was acting at the direction of top trump transition officials we'll hear about that from our Friday political commentators show yesterday's verdict in the shooting death of Keith stylee we have his deep morals desire for retribution in a case like this someone ought to pay for the death of this innocent woman and when a California cheerleader took a need during a high school football game how did people in the stands react they found as a spectacle. In the end I did what I did because those stories coming up after this news. Live from n.p.r. News in Washington I'm nor rom Senate Republicans are racing to finalize the details of a $1.00 trillion dollar bill to overhaul the tax code N.P.R.'s Kelsie smell reports g.o.p. Leaders hope to vote on the legislation by the end of the night Republican leaders spent the day working to incorporate a number of last minute changes to the tax bill folly negotiations with a handful of undecided senators a number of the uncommitted Republicans including Senators Jeff Flake of Arizona and Susan Collins of Maine announced that they would support the bill thanks to the last minute deal making for flake that included assurances that Republicans would consider a permanent legal facts for the roughly 800000 people who are in the country illegally and were brought here as children at least one Republican remained on satisfied or tiring Senator Bob Corker is that he could not vote for the bill over fears that it could add too much to the deficit Kelsey Snell n.p.r. News the Capitol an attorney for Congressman John Conyers says the long serving Detroit Democrat will decide soon whether he'll resign his seat Conyers has been hospitalized for stress following accusations of sexual harassment from women he used to work for him the 88 year old congressman has denied any wrongdoing some House leaders including Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi have called for him to step down Conyers has stepped aside from his position as the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee former national security advisor Michael Flynn pleaded guilty today to 2 counts of lying to the f.b.i. He had told the f.b.i. He did not ask the Russian ambassador to refrain from escalating tensions after the Obama administration imposed sanctions against Russia for its interference in the u.s. Election flight also acknowledged he lied when asked whether he requested that Russia delay a vote on the United Nations Security Council resolution Flynt has a grade to cooperate with the special counsel investigation into connections between Russia and the Trump campaign defense secretary Jim Matheson is heading to the. The least as well as Pakistan the Pentagon says the trip is designed to affirm the u.s. Commitment to partnerships in the region N.P.R.'s Tom Bowman has more menaces 1st off as Egypt where he'll meet with top leaders then on to Jordan for a conference on countering violent extremism in West Africa West Africa has become an increasing focus for the Pentagon with the rise of terror groups and the reason ambush that claimed the lives of 4 American soldiers then manis will head to Pakistan on Monday where he'll likely press military leaders to take more action against Taliban safe havens a plea numerous Pentagon officials have made in the past with little success Taliban fighters and weapons use the porous Pakistani border to head into Afghanistan mess will conclude his trip with a visit to Kuwait host to thousands of u.s. Troops Tom Bowman n.p.r. News Washington the Dow closed down 40 points today the Nasdaq lost 26 points and the s. And p. 500 fell 5 points this is n.p.r. News from Washington. Federal regulators say they'll allow the c.m.a. Group to trade in bitcoin futures Samy owns the Chicago Mercantile Exchange this will be the 1st time the digital currency will be traded on a major exchange that should open Bitcoin trading to investors have been reluctant to buy it on the unregulated exchanges members of an international endangered species trading meeting in Geneva have recommended easing Trade regulations and orchestras traveling with instruments containing threatened species of rosewood N.P.R.'s Robert Benincasa reports many musical instruments use rosewood and n.p.r. Reported recently that confusing trade permit requirements have burdened orchestras and the guitar industry the move by a committee of the treaty known as site e s would clearly exempt travelling orchestras from the permits League of American orchestras lobbyist Heather Noonan called the move a 1st step she said the world's governments will still have to adopt and apply the guidelines for now orchestras should remain careful when traveling they should check with the authorities in each country to which they're traveling to be sure that they're implementing these exemptions in the same way we expect the United States the treaty committee also wants to exempt musical instruments being sent around the world for repair Robert Benincasa n.p.r. News Washington American Airlines and its pilots union today worked out a plan to have enough pilots over the holidays a glitch in the scheduling system had allowed pilots to take time off even when there were no other pilots available neither side provided details of the agreement but they say that it will solve the problem I'm nor Rahm n.p.r. News in Washington support for n.p.r. Comes from n.p.r. Stations other contributors include the Melville charitable trust driven by one goal ending homelessness for good learn more online Ed Melville Trust dot org And on Twitter at Melville trust and Americans for the arts and Americans for the Arts dot org. Support for k v u t comes from the dogwood offering artisan cocktails small bites and desserts the dogwood is located at 3 o 9 3rd Street in a historic miner's cabin just off elk ave the dogwood c v dot com 3496338 you're tuned in to All Things Considered heard right here on your community radio station k b u t don't forget to check out local news stories and more at k v u t o r g. From n.p.r. News this is All Things Considered I'm Robert Siegel in Washington and I'm Kelly McEvers in Culver City California we start with a big development in the legal investigation into contacts between President Trump's associates and officials and Russia the president former national security advisor Michael Flynn has pleaded guilty to lying to the f.b.i. About his contacts with the Russian ambassador has also agreed to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller and to our justice correspondent Carrie Johnson is here to talk us all through this Hikari Hi Kelly So Ok 1st just explain what exactly did Michael Flynn admit to in federal court there in Washington today Michael Flynn has pleaded guilty to a single false statements charge stemming from a January 24th $27.00 interview he did with the f.b.i. After he was already in the White House as President Trump's national security adviser now these court documents say that Flynt lied to the f.b.i. And then interview about 2 things one a series of December 22nd conversations he had with the van Russian ambassador surgically ask about possible delaying a u.n. Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements and to a December 29th series of conversations he had with surgery Kislyak and others about u.s. Sanctions and Russia Ok so he's pled guilty to lying to the f b I basically this is basically a pretty narrow charge and given especially that the special counsel is looking at a pretty wide range of Flynn's activities and in business and in government what does it mean that this charge is so narrow yet in fact Kelly this charge carries a 5 year statutory maximum penalty but prosecutors today say Mike Flynn under their calculations could serve between 0 and 6 months in prison maximum it means an essence that Mike Flynn has something to trade his son who was his business associate was not charged today not mentioned in court papers at all and we know based on other information in the court documents that Mike Flynn was under investigation for failing to register under the. Foreign Agents Registration Act He may have in fact lied on that form he also was under investigation with respect to some of his business dealings in Turkey and Russia none of those charges appeared today that's because we think that my client has something to trade on other people involved in the Trump campaign and he's delivering it to the special counsel now do we know what people those that could be there are some hints or clues in the court documents today nobody is presented by name but with respect to the December 22nd conversations we do know that somebody called a very senior member of the Trump transition was interacting with Mike Flynn we do know that Jared cushion or a presidential advisor and son in law was very involved in that u.n. Effort with respect to Israeli settlements but somebody close to the transition say says to me that it was a collaborative effort other people were involved like Steve Bannon runs Priebus Mike Flynn and others and that nobody directed anyone else to do anything and there was also a hint in the in the court documents Kelley about as senior member of the transition team and we do know that with respect to. Contacts on December 29th according to prosecutors he was talking to people at Mar a Lago Jared cushion or was not in Florida at the time George Bush was in Hawaii on vacation bunch of other Trump associates like Steve Bannon writes Priebus Steven Miller and Kellyanne Conway weren't Mar-A Lago we don't know if you talk to any of those people Ok So Michael Flynn is is the force 4th person now tied to the Trump campaign to be charged with a crime this year what is the White House saying about this yet the White House lawyer Ty Cobb has put out a statement saying my client was let go or resigned under pressure from the White House for exactly this kind of conduct and Ty Cobb says nothing about the guilty plea or the charge today implicates anyone other than Mr Flynn to Aqaba also said the special counsel is moving with all deliberate speed to conclude his. Vest again it's not sure or not clear yet how high up in the White House that investigation may go and talk of also emphasized how little time Mike Flynn spent on the Trump administration and mention that he was also in the Obama administration a vast true although my claim was fired from by the Obama administration whose job is leading the Defense Intelligence Agency it should be pointed out right N.P.R.'s Carrie Johnson thank you very much you're welcome the Flynn guilty plea the Senate Republican tax bill talk of a shake up at the State Department those are the developments we're going to discuss now with our Friday political commentators e.j. Dionne columnist with The Washington Post and co-author of one nation after Trump Good to see region Good to see you and only on a Johnson national political reporter for Politico Iowa hi thanks for having me on a let's start with you Michael Flynn as pleaded guilty and made a deal prosecutors make deals with people to get their higher ups not their subordinates or do you think I should be worrying right now about the the mother investigation we've seen reports already that it is Jared cushion are the president's son in law who directed Michael Flynn to speak to the Russian ambassador and urge him not to retaliate against the United States is imposition of sanctions to wait for president trying to be inaugurated but the White House is pushing back on that saying that it was a group effort I would say we really don't know right now and what strikes me is administration officials I've spoke to have said it's a it's one thing to make contact or be directed to make contact with a foreign country during the campaign that would be deadly The laws are a bit murkier in terms of making contact with a foreign country during the presidential transition less clear how damning that may be on the other hand Bob Mueller would not have entered into a plea agreement with Michael Flynn the former national security adviser if he didn't think that he had something to trade and that to me is what the White House really has to worry about e.j. Do you think it's harder at this point for Donald Trump to dismiss this investigation does it look like a more. Investigation with the flint guilty plea well knowing Donald Trump he will continue to dismiss the investigation but those dismissals become less and less believable I think one of the things we've seen over the last month and a half is Mr Miller is systematic he's disciplined he's tough he knows what he's doing and he's working his way up it's it's as we've talked about before something very similar to an investigation of the mob as he tries to gather people below to to get at people above and so I think the White House has a lot of reason to be very concerned that this that that he is working his way up and whether he gets to the very top we're going to know soon but there were reports today that President Trump was given a very very grim accounting of what's going on out here and I think a grim view rather than tie Cobbs Pollyanna ish view is the right one for the White House to take on it before moving on to another subject do you get the sense that they are concerned at the White House that he just as they should be in New do you have a sense that they're that they're worried about this rank and file aides at the White House are absolutely worried I think there's a general sense of paranoia that this whole house of cards could fall and I think the president himself is concerned about either both what he knows and what he doesn't know we're not quite certain how this will play out but it's clear that Bob Mueller is systematic and clinical in his approach to this and has a plan a strategy let's move on to this is and we haven't said this in a long time a big piece of legislation actually is moving toward success the Republicans appear to have a bill they'll be able to tout it's a tax bill according to independent estimates it's a budget buster it helps a lot of corporations and rich people most doesn't simplify our taxes early on in the Republican Party run into belike that in November and and women say this is what we're for this kind of a tax bill. I'm not sure the Republican Party will be running on the details of this bill I think the Republican Party will be running on the fact that they have gotten something done in Washington and passed a major piece of legislation and there is a distinction to be made there I think if we see economic growth in the next 23 years the Republican Party will reap great benefits but as we know tax cuts and economic growth are sort of loosely connected but the president does tend to reap the benefits of that if they can Democrats credibly say that the the debt was Ok when it was pushing 20 trillion under a Democratic president but 22 trillion is really fiscally irresponsible but what Democrats can say is that with the debt we have and when we are in relatively good economic circumstances it's a terrible idea to cut taxes more than that and add to the deficit more than that this is one of the most reckless operations we've ever seen it represents government for the few by the reckless this tax bill does one Democrat told me that for the 1st time in a tax debate that he could remember the Democrats have the upper hand because in the past when Republicans cut taxes a lot for the very rich they also cut taxes for the middle class and others this bill gives this giant corporate tax cut pulling the corporate rate down to 20 percent from a nominal 35 percent and it actually raises taxes especially when the middle class tax cuts expire in 2025 somebody wrote in The New Yorker that this is like a teaser rate in a mortgage which is a problem people will see some benefits of but you say disappear and so either the Democrats have the upper hand with public opinion obviously the Republicans are and they can pass a bill but they are they have the votes and they think that for both their donors and a the very very conservative part of their base it's worth passing a bill which. Being rewritten that the last minute like a soft more writing a term paper at 4 in the morning they think that they have to get something done for their base and for their donors but the polls show this bill to be very very unpopular I want to ask about one other thing that happened this week which was the reports 1st in the New York Times that Rex Tillerson was about to be fired plans were being made then today Donald Trump after the weakest expression of support for to listen you can imagine yesterday he's here. To be the statement of fact that while we disagree on certain subjects we work well together and America is highly respected again. To listen has a future in Foggy Bottom or not. And that's been the case for the past 6 months or so Donald Trump soured on Rex Tillerson very early and for Tillerson supporters who rued the fact that they're losing a more moderate voice in the administration I would say he may be a moderate voice but he has no influence and the fact that he's likely to be replaced by a more hawkish. Person like the CIA director Mike Pompei I would say I think it's useful for the president to have somebody smart and who actually has influence over policy making and I think that's a good thing Ileana Johnson of Politico and e.j. Dionne of The Washington Post thanks to both of you great to be with you. Listening to All Things Considered from n.p.r. News. This is Tony Todd host of The West Elk word it's k b u t's weekly community affairs program this week's guests are Shelley popped and Glo Cunningham from the Crested Butte mountain Heritage Museum learn about the museum's latest exhibits which are events and a very special guest coming to Tony's Conoco this Sunday that's the west awkward Saturday at noon. For k b u t I'm Ian Johnson with them out near minute keeping you up to date with Western State athletics the women's basketball team was in action on Tuesday after a close 1st half Colorado Mesa pulled away and the mountaineers fell 4669 tomorrow the women open their home season welcoming Westminster College the action gets started at 5 pm at the Paul Wright gymnasium in Gunnison the men's basketball team was also in Grand Junction on Tuesday it was a heartbreaker for Western as they were defeated 8586 the mountaineers will look to get back to their winning ways tomorrow evening as they host Westminster at 7 tonight the wrestling team hosts its home opener they welcome in Chadron State for Suns outguns out night the Money airs defeated Colorado Mesa in their last Duel and they're looking for another strong showing as they continue to climb the national ranks currently Brandon supernal ranks 6th at 174 pounds while Connor Schmidt ranks 11th at 197 this has been the mountaineer minute for k b a j i e n Johnson thank you for supporting Western state Colorado University where champions are made their. 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