Donald Trump’s personal lawyer has admitted that he wrote the controversial tweet that suggested the President knew Michael Flynn lied to the FBI.
The post, which appeared on the Commander-in-Chief’s Twitter page on Saturday, claimed the former national security adviser was dismissed in February because he had deceived authorities over his conversations with the Russian Ambassador to the US.
It has led to speculation that the President could be prosecuted for obstruction of justice, as he reportedly told former FBI director James Comey to stop investigating Flynn after firing him.
Trump’s personal lawyer, John Doyd, pictured, has admitted that he crafted a controversial tweet that appeared on the President’s personal account on Saturday
This tweet by Donald Trump led to accusations that the president had obstructed justice after allegedly telling James Comey to back off Michael Flynn while also knowing that Flynn lied to the FBI. But now the White House says his personal lawyer made the tweet
But now Trump’s attorney, John Dowd, has claimed that he was the one who crafted the tweet, which has been described as ‘sloppy’.
Speaking to ABC News, the lawyer said the social media post was ‘my mistake’ and that he had not intended ‘to break news’ in writing it.
Mr Dowd’s admission did not clarify if Trump actually knew about Flynn’s deception when he dismissed him in February or whether the President knew the tweet had been published on Saturday.
It follows earlier reports that he was responsible for the post, which read: ‘I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI.
‘He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!’
It was sent while Trump’s motorcade was stuck in traffic as it left a Republican fundraising event in New York City.
It appeared to be an attempt by the President to defend Flynn and disprove suspicion that there was any collusion between his aides and the Kremlin.
The tweet was posted while Trump was stuck in traffic in a motorcade in New York City, leading to critics accusing him of committing a crime
Instead, it placed scrutiny back on him and fueled talk of a different offense entirely.
Democrats were quick to jump on it, saying that if – as claimed – Trump allegedly asked then-FBI head James Comey to ‘go easy’ on Flynn after his firing, he had obstructed justice.
The White House, which has said that Trump’s tweets should be taken as official statements, has not yet commented on the matter.
Flynn was fired on February 13. At the time, the President said the decision was based on him misleading Vice President Mike Pence about his interaction with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak on December 22.
On Friday Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the conversation and is now said to be cooperating in special counsel Robert Mueller’s sweeping Russia probe.