The Former Trump campaign advisor who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and received a very lenient sentence because the judge was convinced of his remorse is walking on thin ice with comments he’s making almost immediately after sentencing.
George Papadopoulos received 14 days in prison on Friday for his crime when he might have spent as many as 6 months behind bars. What he said on Twitter Monday evening might not only be ticking off Judge Randy Moss. Special counsel Robert Mueller might also have a reason to raise the issue with the judge.
Papadopoulos went on quite a rant, essentially accusing “Clinton friend” Australian politician Alexander Downer of setting him up. He said “if British intelligence was weaponized against an American citizen” that would be a very big problem.
Downer, the former Australian foreign minister, was the guy Papadopoulos met for drinks in London back in May 2016. He said Papadopoulos told him that Russia had “political dirt” on Clinton. Downer notified Australian authorities, and they notified the FBI.
Papadopoulos is openly questioning Downer’s motives and saying that he has “no recollection” of discussing emails with him. He also said Downer should be “as exposed as Christoper Steele,” the ex-MI6 name behind the infamous Russia dossier.
Here’s what Papadopoulos had to say:
I introduced candidate Trump to the Egyptian president during the campaign. A president who's country I actually had deep connections to, and the campaign accepted. I failed to introduce him to Putin.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 10, 2018
Furthermore, to put things in context, even with my real contact in Egypt, it was only AFTER I introduced Trump-Sisi that the Egyptian Ambassador hosted me to congratulate me. On the other hand, Alexander Downer, wanted to meet under incredibly suspicious circumstances.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 10, 2018
I found it so odd that Downer, who gained notoriety in Australia for wearing women's fish nets, invited me to "order" me to stop "bothering" his good friend David Cameron. And told me my views were hostile to British interests.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 10, 2018
So basically, for those paying attention, we have a Clinton friend, connected to the MI6, and private intelligence organizations in London, probing me about my ties to the energy business offshore Israel. Nothing about the US-Australia relationship.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 10, 2018
Would be a very very big problem if British intelligence was weopanized against an American citizen.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 11, 2018
Yet I supposedly told THAT individual about emails. Something I have no recollection ever discussing.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 10, 2018
The notion that Downer randomly reached out to me just to have a gin and tonic is laughable. Some organization or entity sent him to meet me. For the sake of our republic and the integrity of this investigation, I think it's time Downer is as exposed as Christoper Steele.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 11, 2018
What was that noise — was that Papadopoulos lawyer Thomas Breen shrieking in the distance?
That scream you hear in the distance is from the legal team of George Papadopoulos, who has begun offering his thoughts on various subjects related to the Russia investigation on Twitter. https://t.co/qoZplyjUQq
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) September 11, 2018
National security lawyer Bradley P. Moss pointed out that Papadopoulos was “risking the judge getting angry.”
Risking the judge getting angry https://t.co/810KVyu28H
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) September 11, 2018
.@GeorgePapa19 are you trying to get yourself in more trouble?
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) September 11, 2018
He told Law&Crime that, in theory, the judge could see these tweets as “calling into question the sincerity of his statements to the court.”
That, in turn, could result in a revised sentencing. He said this was unlikely, however, unless Team Mueller raises the issue.
He said that the Department of Justice “almost certainly has internal policy guidelines outlining in what circumstances post-sentencing information that comes to light should be viewed as sufficient to justify raising the matter before the trial judge,” but the ball is in Mueller’s court.
“The question is whether this is enough in Mueller’s view,” Moss added.
We’ll see if that is the case.
Three hours after tweeting out all of these things, Papadopoulos sent out another tweet emphasizing that is “ashamed” of the “lie” he told. After expressing that remorse, he shifted gears again.
“On the other hand, I did notify them that I thought Downer was recording me with his phone,” he said. “I hope that was investigated.”
I love the USA and the brave men and women of the FBI that risk their lives to protect us. I made the mistake to lie to them for wish I am ashamed. On the other hand, I did notify them that I thought Downer was recording me with his phone. I hope that was investigated.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 11, 2018
[Image via Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images]
