GOP lawmakers on Thursday rushed to former national security adviser Michael Flynn's defense after new documents unsealed in his criminal case showed FBI agents discussing how to approach his interview.

Republicans seized on documents released late Wednesday that showed FBI agents planning Flynn's interview, including one asking whether it was their goal to "get him to lie," as another opportunity to decry the FBI's handling of his case.

Rep. Devin Nunes Devin Gerald NunesOvernight Defense: Stopgap spending measure awaits Senate vote | Trump nominates former Nunes aide for intelligence community watchdog | Trump extends ban on racial discrimination training to contractors, military Trump nominates former Nunes aide to serve as intel community inspector general Sunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election MORE (Calif.), the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, tweeted that it was "clear now that General Flynn was set up by dirty cops at the highest levels of our government."

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Some Republicans even went on to endorse the idea that Flynn should be pardoned. Sen. Rand Paul Randal (Rand) Howard PaulRand Paul says he can't judge 'guilt or innocence' in Breonna Taylor case Overnight Health Care: Health officials tell public to trust in science | Despair at CDC under Trump influence | A new vaccine phase 3 trial starts Health officials tell public to trust in science MORE (R-Ky.) said that the new documents showed "egregious and unacceptable behavior," adding that "I believe ⁦@realDonaldTrump should pardon Gen. Flynn."

Rep. Matt Gaetz Matthew (Matt) GaetzFlorida attorney general scrutinizing Bloomberg paying fines for felons to vote Lara Trump campaigns with far-right activist candidate Laura Loomer in Florida House to vote on removing cannabis from list of controlled substances MORE (R-Fla.) endorsed Paul's position, tweeting "Rand correct again."

President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE, who has not ruled out a pardon for Flynn, also railed against the FBI on Thursday.

“They came at him with 15 buses, and he’s standing in the middle of a highway. What they did to this man, they tormented him. They destroyed him. But he’s going to come back. Like I say, he’s going to come back bigger and better," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, after tweeting multiple times Thursday morning in support of Flynn.

Trump added that Flynn “is in the process of being exonerated. If you look at those notes from yesterday, that was total exoneration.”

In the notes, an unidentified FBI agent asks "what's our goal?"

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"Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?" the note reads. "If we get him to admit to breaking the Logan Act, give facts to DOJ & have them decide. Or, if he initially lies, then we present him [redacted] & he admits it, document for DOJ, & let them decide how to address it."

“If we’re seen as playing games, WH will be furious,” the note reads. “Protect our institution by not playing games.”

The Logan Act is a law that bars unauthorized Americans from negotiating with foreign governments over disputes with the U.S.

Flynn resigned as national security adviser after admitting that he misled administration officials about his discussions with Russia's ambassador to Washington about U.S. sanctions before Trump took office. Flynn initially pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to investigators about his contacts with foreign nationals, including the Russian ambassador, but has since sought to withdraw his plea.

Before Flynn resigned from the White House, the Justice Department was aware of the contents of his communications about sanctions with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Then-acting Attorney General Sally Yates Sally Caroline YatesButtigieg, former officials added to Biden's transition team The Hill's 12:30 Report: Delegates stage state-centric videos for the roll call Trump fires back at Yates for convention speech: 'Terrible AG' MORE warned the Trump administration at the time that Flynn hadn't been truthful and that he could be vulnerable to blackmail by the Russians.

The Democratic chairs of the House Intelligence and Judiciary committees didn't immediately comment on the new documents. But some legal experts downplayed their significance.

Daniel Goldman, the former director of investigations for the House Intelligence Committee under Chairman Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffPelosi, Democrats unveil bills to rein in alleged White House abuses of power Chris Matthews ripped for complimenting Trump's 'true presidential behavior' on Ginsburg Trump casts doubt on Ginsburg statement, wonders if it was written by Schiff, Pelosi or Schumer MORE (D-Calif.), said that the notes from the FBI agents likely don't include the full context.

"We should see all of the notes — not just the one page publicized by Flynn’s lawyer — but even this one page hardly 'exonerates' him,' Goldman tweeted. "The notes show that FBI senior officials were debating whether to play the Kislyak recording if Flynn lied about it. The goal was to get to the truth/have Flynn admit his conduct — and NOT simply get him fired — so this official was inclined to confront him with the evidence."

Elie Honig, a former federal prosecutor, said it's not unusual for prosecutors and FBI agents to discuss how to approach an interview with a suspect.

“As a federal prosecutor, FBI & I questioned more subjects than I can count. Every time, there were 3 potential outcomes. Subject: 1) Tells the truth; 2) Lies (& potentially gets charged); 3) Refuses to talk. There is nothing unusual about discussing how each could play out,” Honig tweeted Thursday.

Rep. Jim Jordan James (Jim) Daniel JordanHouse panel pulls Powell into partisan battles over pandemic Sunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election House passes resolution condemning anti-Asian discrimination relating to coronavirus MORE (Ohio), the top Republican on the House Oversight Committee, turned his ire toward FBI Director Christopher Wray.

"Where is Christopher Wray? Why didn't we learn any of this from him? Thank goodness for [Flynn attorney] Sidney Powell and [Attorney General] Bill Barr or we would have never got this information," Jordan said during an interview on "Fox & Friends."

"If they can do this to a three-star general, if they can do this to the president of the United States, imagine what they can do to you and me. And, more importantly, imagine what they can do to the 750,000 people I get the privilege of representing in the fourth district of Ohio. That is what's so troubling about all of this. And Christopher Wray needs to — needs to tell us what he's been up to this two and a half years that he's been director of the FBI," Jordan said.

Other Republicans allied with Trump seized on the documents as confirmation of their suspicions about the FBI following the special counsel's investigation about Russian election interference intended to help Trump in 2016.

"The more that comes out, the more we are proven correct," Gaetz tweeted.

"This is more proof they intentionally targeted, set up & destroyed Michael Flynn — a war hero serving as National Security Advisor. The #DeepState MUST be held accountable for this flagrant injustice," tweeted Rep. Jody Hice Jody Brownlow HicePelosi must go — the House is in dire need of new leadership House Republicans investigating California secretary of state's contract with Biden-linked firm GOP lawmakers want answers from Disney on Mulan, China MORE (R-Ga.).

Trump on Thursday also suggested that his longtime associate Roger Stone Roger Jason StoneThe agony of justice Our Constitution is under attack by Attorney General William Barr Justice IG investigating Stone sentencing: report MORE, who was also charged in connection with former special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE’s investigation for lying to investigators and witness tampering, was similarly treated unfairly. Stone is appealing his prison sentence after the judge in his case rejected his request for a retrial.

As with Flynn, Trump has also not ruled out a pardon for Stone.

“Does anybody really believe that Roger Stone, a man whose house was raided early in the morning by 29 gun toting FBI Agents (with Fake News @CNN closely in toe), was treated fairly,” Trump tweeted. “How about the jury forewoman with her unannounced hatred & bias. Same scammers as General Flynn!”