The jury in the trial of 2016 Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann on May 31st ruled the accused innocent on a charge of giving false testimony to the FBI, after deliberating in the early morning and on May 27th.
Unique Counsel John Durham in 2015 charged Sussmann with lying to the FBI, while working as a personal lawyer, for presumably informing then-bureau General Counsel James Baker that he was not dealing on behalf of any client while supplying him with the information he claimed corroborated a supposed secret communications channel in between the Russian Alfa Bank and the Trump Organization.
Durham argued Sussmann was dealing on behalf of two clients, the Clinton project and previous tech company executive Rodney Joffe when he provided Baker with 2 computer system thumb drives of information and white documents.
The connection was apparently a back channel to the Kremlin.
The Sussmann-Baker conference occurred on Sept. 19, 2016, simply weeks prior to Election Day.
The trial is the very first in Durham’s examination into the origins of the now-debunked Russia collusion story.
“While we are disappointed in the outcome, we respect the jury’s decision and thank them for their service,” Durham said after the verdict. “I also want to recognize and thank the investigators and the prosecution team for their dedicated efforts in seeking truth and justice in this case.”
The next trial will remain in October in Virginia for Igor Danchenko, a Russian expert implicated of lying to the FBI in connection with the collusion plot.
Sussmann checked out a ready declaration to press reporters following the trial.
“I told the truth to the FBI and the jury clearly recognized that with their unanimous verdict today. I’m grateful to the members of the jury for their careful and thoughtful service. Despite being falsely accused, I’m relieved that justice ultimately prevailed in my case.
“As you can imagine, this has been a difficult year for my family and me. But right now, we are just grateful for the love and support of so many during this ordeal and I’m looking forward to getting back to the work that I love.”
After closing arguments in the trial concluded Friday, the jury pondered for numerous hours prior to being dismissed for the long vacation weekend. The jury resumed considerations Tuesday by asking to see a number of federal government shows.
The trial lasted 11 days, consisting of jury choice and considerations.
Prosecution lawyers stated throughout the trial that the product was “pure opposition research” which Sussmann desired as an “October Surprise” in the 2016 presidential race.
Sussmann pleaded innocent to the charge and face up to 5 years in prison.
The trial was held in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia prior to Judge Christopher Cooper.
H/T JustTheNews
