The Sussman single, low level charge was and is an interesting opening gambit. Yes, we will have to endure fake news on how this blows the Durham investigation up. But they will never admit this trial was used to introduce the reality of the conspiracy into an official record. And, the distinct possibility this charge and trial was more about that, than wanting/needing a conviction.
Had he been convicted the FBI would be having a party. It would have given them plausible deniability. The conspiracy would be resting squarely on Hillary’s and the DNC’s shoulders. His acquittal implies the opposite, they knew who he represented and chose to engage in the conspiracy.
Interestingly, even if Sussman did not lie to the FBI, he still participated in a conspiracy to influence the 2016 Presidential election. Will he be charged with that in the future? Or, has he possibly already cut a deal on the more serious charges?
Thanks to u/MeanOMan for opening my mind to this perspective!
As always, only time will tell.
For sure it was a calculated risk, but the swamp almost reflexively protects their own. The prosecution played on that reflex and hedged their bet by presenting evidence that implicated the FBI.
If you think about the Prosecution case, it demonstrated the CIA immediately knew what Sussman was peddling didn’t add up. And, then called FBI witnesses who said within days they knew the Alfa Bank story was false.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/justice/fbi-agent-at-sussmann-trial-bureau-rejected-alfa-bank-claims-within-days
The jury was really left with two choices. Sussman told a lie that duped the FBI into investigating the false allegations. Or, that the FBI knew they were false and chose to investigate anyway, which means Sussman’s lie was not material.