Michael Sussmann is accused of mendacity to the FBI when he turned over since-debunked knowledge that purportedly linked the Trump Group to a Russian financial institution with ties to the Kremlin.
Evan Vucci/AP
The Hillary Clinton marketing campaign lawyer on trial for allegedly mendacity to the FBI about his motivation for turning over since-debunked knowledge purportedly linking Donald Trump to Russia declined to testify in his personal protection Thursday earlier than his attorneys rested their case.
As late as Wednesday, attorneys for Michael Sussmann, a former associate at powerhouse Democratic regulation agency Perkins Coie, stated he was nonetheless considering whether or not to take the stand at his single-count trial that’s spanned practically two weeks in DC federal court docket.
Requested by Decide Christopher Cooper on Thursday morning if he had spoken to his legal professionals and determined to not testify, Sussmann replied, “Sure, your honor.”
The embattled lawyer is accused of mendacity to former FBI normal counsel James Baker throughout a 2016 assembly by which Sussmann turned over knowledge that allegedly tied the Trump Group to a Russian financial institution with hyperlinks to the Kremlin.
In a textual content message the night time earlier than the assembly, Sussmann advised Baker he was coming “not on behalf of any shopper or firm,” however as a involved citizen who needed to “assist the Bureau.”
Particular counsel John Durham, who secured the indictment in opposition to Sussmann, charged that he was truly on the assembly on behalf of the Clinton marketing campaign and an web govt named Rodney Joffe.
Earlier than the protection rested, attorneys learn into the file two stipulations — together with one which stated Joffe and the businesses he’s related to “supplied help to and fee from a number of businesses from america authorities.” Joffe and the businesses have been paid tens of millions for his or her tech work by purchasers together with the US intelligence neighborhood.
All through the trial, prosecutors have referred to as a litany of witnesses in an try to indicate Sussmann was appearing on behalf of his purchasers through the assembly — and to counsel it was a part of a wider effort by the Clinton marketing campaign to make use of the FBI to create an “October shock” forward of the 2016 election.
Referred to as by prosecutors, Baker testified he was “100% assured” that Sussmann advised him close to the start of their assembly that he was not there on behalf of any shopper.
“He stated that he was not showing earlier than me on behalf of any specific shopper,” Baker recalled on the stand final week.
Sussmann’s protection has labored to spotlight reminiscence lapses and different errors made by the prosecution’s witnesses, together with Baker.
In his opening assertion, lawyer Michael Bosworth contended Baker’s reminiscence of the Sept. 19, 2016, assembly with Sussmann was “clear as mud.”
In his cross-examination of Baker, protection lawyer Sean Berkowitz highlighted inconsistent statements the FBI’s former prime lawyer made to investigators concerning the assembly within the years main as much as the trial.
In a 2019 interview with the Division of Justice’s inspector normal, Baker stated he believed Sussmann was there on behalf of “some variety of those that have been his purchasers.”
Baker advised jurors he used the time period “purchasers” as “shorthand” to explain cybersecurity researchers who equipped the since-discredited knowledge.
Closing arguments have been set for Friday morning.
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