{"id":1494584,"date":"2022-05-27T12:14:57","date_gmt":"2022-05-27T16:14:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1494584"},"modified":"2022-05-27T12:15:03","modified_gmt":"2022-05-27T16:15:03","slug":"durham-team-evidence-has-proven-ex-clinton-lawyer-sussmann-is-guilty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/durham-team-evidence-has-proven-ex-clinton-lawyer-sussmann-is-guilty\/","title":{"rendered":"Durham Team: Evidence Has Proven Ex-Clinton Lawyer Sussmann Is Guilty"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdurham-team-evidence-has-proven-ex-clinton-lawyer-sussmann-is-guilty%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1494584&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div id=\"speechkit-wrapper\" class=\"speechkit-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"speakable\"><span class=\"dateline\">WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 <\/span>Special Counsel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/topic\/durham-probe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John Durham\u2019s team delivered its closing argument<\/a> in the trial of Michael Sussmann Friday morning, saying the evidence has &#8220;proven beyond a reasonable doubt&#8221; that Sussmann made a false statement to the FBI. Sussman had said he was not bringing the debunked allegations of a covert communications channel between the Trump Organization and a Russian bank to the bureau on behalf of any client, when he, in fact, billed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/the-clintons\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hillary Clinton\u2019s presidential campaign<\/a> for his time and work on the matter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\">Federal prosecutor Jonathan Algor delivered the government\u2019s closing argument Friday morning, presenting their final case to the jury.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/michael-sussmann-to-stand-trial-first-case-brought-special-counsel-john-durham\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><u>SPECIAL COUNSEL JOHN DURHAM&#8217;S PROSECUTION OF MICHAEL SUSSMANN: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Sussmann has been charged with one count of making a false statement to the FBI when he met with then-FBI General Counsel James Baker on Sept. 19, 2016. The government alleges Sussmann told Baker that he was not bringing allegations tying then-candidate Donald Trump to the Kremlin-linked Alfa Bank on behalf of any client, but rather, as a citizen concerned with national security.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 767px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/640\/320\/Special-Counsel-John-Durham-Sussmann-Trial.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1\" alt=\"Special Counsel John Durham departs the U.S. federal courthouse after opening arguments in the trial of attorney Michael Sussmann in Washington, May 17, 2022.\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p>\n      Special Counsel John Durham departs the U.S. federal courthouse after opening arguments in the trial of attorney Michael Sussmann in Washington, May 17, 2022.<br \/>\n      <span class=\"copyright\">(Reuters\/Julia Nikhinson)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Sussmann has pleaded not guilty to the charge.<\/p>\n<p>But the government argued that billing records, testimony and other written evidence prove that Sussmann was charging the Clinton campaign for his work on the matter, and has said throughout the trial that he billed the Clinton campaign for the FBI meeting.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The evidence has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant Michael Sussmann made a false statement to the FBI,&#8221; Algor said. &#8220;The defendant used his privilege as a high-powered Washington lawyer, a former DOJ prosecutor\u2026 to bypass normal channels and expedite a meeting with the FBI general counsel.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He knew he had to conceal his connection to the Clinton campaign and to Rodney Joffe,&#8221; Algor said. &#8220;He knew if he told Baker he was there on behalf of the Clinton campaign, the chances of an FBI investigation would be diminished.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Algor went on to stress that the allegations were &#8220;not about national security&#8221; but &#8220;about opposition research against candidate Donald Trump.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Algor laid out the false statement charge, alleging that Sussmann\u2019s statement to Baker during the meeting was the false statement, saying the evidence shows the statement was &#8220;untrue when it was made and he knew it was untrue.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/hillary-clinton-approved-trump-russian-bank-allegations-sussmann-trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><u>HILLARY CLINTON APPROVED DISSEMINATION OF TRUMP-RUSSIAN BANK ALLEGATIONS TO MEDIA, CAMPAIGN MANAGER TESTIFIES<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Algor referenced the &#8220;materiality&#8221; of the false statement, saying that jurors are required to decide on whether Sussmann\u2019s false statement was capable of influencing the FBI.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The government is not required to prove that the statement influenced the FBI but only that it could have influenced the FBI,&#8221; Algor told jurors.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;How do we know it mattered?&#8221; Algor asked. &#8220;Baker said he doesn\u2019t know if he would have taken the meeting had he known [Sussmann was representing the Clinton campaign].&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Algor pointed to Baker\u2019s testimony, in which he said he would have paused the investigation, consulted with FBI leadership, and would have invited others to participate in the meeting with Sussmann on Sept. 19, 2016, due to the fact that it took place &#8220;a month and a half before the presidential election.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Algor reminded the jury that a government witness, former FBI agent Allison Sands, also raised concerns, saying she would have wanted to know about &#8220;motivations.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Algor presented a number of billing records and emails to the jury Friday, beginning on July 29, 2016, and through October 2016, revealing Sussmann repeatedly billed the Clinton campaign for work on the Alfa Bank opposition research against Trump.<\/p>\n<p>The government also reminded jurors of a key text message Sussmann sent to Baker on the night before his FBI meeting on Sept. 19, 2016. Durham\u2019s team alleges Sussmann put his &#8220;lie in writing&#8221; in his Sept. 18, 2016, text to Baker.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/sussmann-durham-trial-marc-elias-briefed-clinton-campaign-officials-fusion-gps-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><u>SUSSMANN-DURHAM TRIAL: MARC ELIAS SAYS HE BRIEFED CLINTON CAMPAIGN OFFICIALS ON FUSION GPS OPPO AGAINST TRUMP<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The text message stated: &#8220;Jim \u2014 it\u2019s Michael Sussmann. I have something time-sensitive (and sensitive) I need to discuss,&#8221; the text message stated, according to Durham. &#8220;Do you have availability for a short meeting tomorrow? I\u2019m coming on my own \u2014 not on behalf of a client or company \u2014 want to help the Bureau. Thanks.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Baker replied, &#8220;OK. I will find a time. What might work for you?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Algor, on Friday, said that text message had &#8220;43 words&#8221; and said &#8220;20&#8221; of those words were &#8220;a lie.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The defendant\u2019s own words, own actions, are overwhelming,&#8221; Algor said. &#8220;The evidence has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Sussmann made a false statement to the FBI.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You should return the only verdict supported by the evidence in this case \u2013 guilty,&#8221; Algor closed.<\/p>\n<p>Sussmann decided not to testify in his defense, and his defense began delivering its closing argument Friday morning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Special Counsel John Durham\u2019s team delivered its closing argument in the trial of Michael Sussmann Friday morning, saying the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":498,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1494584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1494584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/498"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1494584"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1494584\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1494584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1494584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1494584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}