Michael Flynn famously led a “lock her up” chant aimed at Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Republican National Convention ― words that are ringing particularly ironic now.
On Friday morning, the former national security adviser pleaded guilty to charges of lying to the FBI about his contacts with the Russian government.
The “lock her up” chant had arisen out of Clinton’s use of a private email server while she was secretary of state, which the FBI investigated last year. But Clinton was never charged with anything.
“If I did a tenth, a tenth of what she did, I would be in jail,” said Flynn during the convention.
His actions then, the current charges and his guilty plea have sent Twitter users into a tizzy. Here’s what some people are saying:
Flynn pleading guilty a year-plus after leading a lock-her-up chant is truly the "if you diss Dre, you diss yourself" of politics.
— Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) December 1, 2017
I mashed up Michael Flynn's perp walk with audio of him leading a "lock her up" chant. pic.twitter.com/L1o5CjJXrQ
— Adam Smith (@asmith83) December 1, 2017
PRO-TIP: Never lead a crowd of thousands in a chant of “lock her up” if you later plan on committing a federal crime https://t.co/mjWVN8723z
— Freddie Campion (@FreddieCampion) December 1, 2017
Lock her up, amirite?
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) December 1, 2017
From leading "lock her up" chants to actually getting locked up himself. Life comes at you fast.
— Marcus H. Johnson (@marcushjohnson) December 1, 2017
499: Number of days between when Michael Flynn led a “Lock her up!” chant at the 2016 Republican Convention and pleading guilty of lying to the FBI
— Gabriel Snyder (@gabrielsnyder) December 1, 2017
Old enough to remember Flynn leading a “lock her up” chant at the convention
— Sam Stein (@samstein) December 1, 2017
Area man who chanted “Lock Her Up” currently locked up
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) December 1, 2017
Many have even imagined Clinton’s reaction to Flynn’s guilty plea:
Mike Flynn about Hillary Clinton, 2016: "Lock Her Up!"
— Holly O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) December 1, 2017
Hillary Clinton, today: pic.twitter.com/zPsoDEnQBu
When the man who chanted 'lock her up' just pled guilty to something that could lock him up. #MikeFlynn pic.twitter.com/bQ6YqfeYWT
— Sophie Vershbow (@svershbow) December 1, 2017
Somewhere, Hillary Clinton, reads the news about Michael "Lock Her Up!" Flynn admitting to being a criminal, blows on her tea to cool it, and allows her smirk to segue into an uproarious laugh. pic.twitter.com/yijoXharBz
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) December 1, 2017
Even lawmakers have gotten involved:
Michael Flynn, Trump's former NSC director, indicted for lying to FBI. Lock him up?
— Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) December 1, 2017
Lock them up! Lock them up! Lock them up!
— Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) December 1, 2017
Some things just don’t age well.
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