Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss in Durham Probe Case

APR 13 2022·Updated JAN 23 2023

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Image credit: Dept of Justice/C-SPAN [via CNN]

The Facts

A federal judge in DC has denied Michael Sussmann's motion to dismiss the case brought against him by Special Counsel John Durham, paving the way for a trial next month.
FOX News
The indictment against Sussmann alleges that he lied to the FBI about his work for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, when he approached the FBI in 2016 with internet data suggesting a secret back channel between the Trump Org. and Alfa Bank, a Russian financial institution.
Business Insider
Prosecutors do not allege that the data Sussmann provided to the FBI was inaccurate, only that he failed to disclose his employment relationship with a Democratic campaign, which may have impacted the FBI's decision-making.
Law & Crime
Sussmann maintains that he did not lie, and argued that the allegation was not material to the FBI's decision to open an investigation, and thus doesn't meet the standard for prosecution.
Law & Crime

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The Spin

Left narrative

If the Russia investigation was a "hoax," Durham would be charging Sussman and others with more than just lying to the FBI about who was paying for Sussman's work.

Mother Jones

Pro-Trump narrative

Sussman was at the center of the Russia hoax and there's no denying he lied to the FBI. There's no way this case could be dismissed without hearing the government's evidence at trial.

The Federalist