Former National Security Agency Director Michael Flynn should not be granted immunity for his "mysterious" request in exchange for his testimony on Russia, Rep. Jason Chaffetz said Friday morning, and he doesn't buy President Donald Trump's claims that the probe is a "witch hunt."
"Look, it's very mysterious to me, though, why Gen. Flynn is suddenly saying he wants immunity," the Utah Republican told Fox News' "America's Newsroom" program.
"Congress shouldn't give him immunity, and I don't believe the president should be weighing in on this."
Earlier on Friday, Trump used his personal Twitter account to support his former national security adviser's request for immunity, slamming the probes into alleged contacts between the Russian government and his administration as "a witch hunt" by Democrats and members of the media.
"It doesn't look good" that Flynn wants immunity," Chaffetz said but at the same time, "the witch hunt, I don't buy that either," said Chaffetz of Trump's comments. "We're just trying to get to the facts, and if there are some swirling things that need to be answered."
Chaffetz also warned against giving Flynn immunity because it could make it more difficult, not easier, to get to the facts in the case.
"Remember what we went through with the Hillary Clinton scandal?" said Chaffetz. "Five people got immunity, and suddenly we didn't get the case. Nobody was prosecuted and nor did we get to the truth. It's way too early to suggest that and you'd have to know what he's going to give up."
Chaffetz told Fox News he was also critical when former President Barack Obama weighed in on the IRS scandal concerning conservative groups, before the facts had all been gathered, and he does not think Trump should be weighing in on the Flynn matter.
Democrats, meanwhile, have ramped the case up, but Republicans control the House, Senate and White House, said Chaffetz, and it will need to get to a "high standard" before anyone will be prosecuted.
"I think Democrats have swirled the waters significantly, but let's get to the facts, wherever those may take us," said Chaffetz. "That's still under process. If suddenly you have somebody stand up and say I need immunity, it raises your eyebrows.
"Even Gen. Flynn used that against Hillary Clinton. It comes around to bite you and I think they need to get to the facts."
Chaffetz also discussed the matter of repealing and replacing Obamacare, saying he believes Trump is taking on members of the House Freedom Caucus because he wants a solution and not to be "to the healthcare debacle."
"We all campaigned on getting on to repeal and replace Obamacare," said Chaffetz. "We were so close. Nobody wants to walk away from this. I worry there are some people that can never get to yes, but we're so close. I'm not willing to give up on it yet."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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