Van Jones: Flynn’s plea means a ‘whole bunch of people about to go to jail’

CNN political commentator Van Jones said Tuesday that the plea from former national security adviser Michael Flynn means a lot of people are “about to go to jail.”

During an interview with late-show host Stephen Colbert, Jones was asked whether he thinks it’s still possible to downplay the Russia investigation.

“When your main homeboy turns snitch, a whole bunch of people about to go to jail,” Jones, a former Obama adviser, said.

{mosads}”That’s how that works.”

Last week, Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents in one of the most dramatic developments yet in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

As part of the plea deal, Flynn has agreed to cooperate fully with the investigation. For the time being, at least, he will remain free — although the charge he faces carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

A former Trump campaign aide, George Papadopoulos, has also pleaded guilty to lying to investigators and is cooperating with Mueller’s team.

Two other campaign officials, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his associate Richard Gates, also face charges in the investigation. They have both pleaded not guilty.

Trump, who has denied collusion with Russia, has repeatedly called the Russia investigation a “witch hunt.”

Over the weekend, Trump tweeted that he had to fire Flynn because he lied to Vice President Pence and the FBI.

But, he added: “It’s a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!”

In another tweet, Trump said: “So General Flynn lies to the FBI and his life is destroyed, while Crooked Hillary Clinton, on that now famous FBI holiday ‘interrogation’ with no swearing in and no recording, lies many times…and nothing happens to her? Rigged system, or just a double standard?”

Trump’s personal lawyer on Sunday claimed responsibility for drafting the president’s tweet about firing Flynn because he lied to the FBI. The tweet was the first indication suggesting Trump knew Flynn had committed a felony before urging then-FBI Director James Comey to let “go” of the investigation in February.