Senator Richard Burr thinks "honorable" Michael Flynn deserves our "gratitude"

Key Republicans at the head of committees that would conduct the investigations into Michael Flynn’s wrongdoing and possible collusion with Russia by members of the Trump administrations have indicated no desire for independent examination.

Worse, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, went so far as to say Flynn should actually be praised for his work:

Washington, D.C. can be a rough town for honorable people, and Flynn — who has always been a soldier, not a politician — deserves America’s gratitude and respect for dedicating so much of his life to strengthening our national security. I thank him for his many years of distinguished service.

Burr’s words here, regardless of Flynn’s career up to this point, amount to the advocacy and support of a man who engaged in highly inappropriate discussions regarding sanctions with Russian actors during the course of our presidential election and afterward, and lied about it.

Likewise, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has called Flynn a “hero,” saying that he had served the country well:

.@SenOrrinHatch says Flynn resignation doesn't "deserve" investigation. "I think highly of him, he's a hero of this country for many years"

— Jacqueline Feldscher (@jacqklimas) February 14, 2017

In a statement to Shareblue, Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) was pointed in response to Republicans abdicating their duty to the country and complimenting Flynn, saying that “despite the front they are putting up…they are shaking in their boots.” She continued:

The Congressional Republicans do not know what [President Trump] is going to do or when he is going to do it.

With Flynn being fired today, that is the tip of the iceberg. Many of them don’t know what to do or think and they don’t want to cross President Trump. But, if collusion is exposed they will need to turn on him to do the right thing to stand up as patriots to defend our democracy.