CBS News senior investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge on "The Takeout" — 5/22/2020

CBS News senior investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge joined host Major Garrett on the latest episode of the podcast "The Takeout," recorded in Washington D.C. on May 22, 2020, to analyze the complex legal developments surrounding former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and the FBI’s origins of the Russia investigation. During the interview, Herridge provided an in-depth breakdown of newly declassified documents and the ongoing scrutiny of the Department of Justice's decision to drop charges against Flynn. The discussion addressed the political and judicial friction between the Trump administration and federal law enforcement agencies regarding the 2016 election interference probe. Throughout the episode, Herridge highlighted the importance of transparency in the investigative process, focusing on the procedural nuances of how the FBI handled the initial counterintelligence cases against Trump campaign officials. She noted that the release of internal memos and "unmasking" requests had become central to the debate over whether the investigation was politically motivated. As an investigative journalist with deep ties to the intelligence community, Herridge offered a perspective on how these revelations impacted the credibility of both the Department of Justice and the FBI in the eyes of the public. The conversation also delved into the specific role of Michael Flynn, whose legal battle became a flashpoint for broader debates about executive power and the "Deep State" narrative. Herridge explained that the shifting testimony and the subsequent motion to dismiss the case by Attorney General William Barr’s Justice Department represented a rare and controversial move in federal court. By examining the timelines of the meetings and the internal communications of top FBI officials like James Comey and Andrew McCabe, the broadcast aimed to clarify the motivations behind the high-stakes surveillance of American citizens involved in presidential transitions.