Special Counsel Robert Mueller has charged former Trump national security advisor Michael Flynn with “willfully and knowingly” making “false, fictitious and fraudulent statements” to the FBI regarding conversations with Russia’s ambassador.
According to CNN, a federal judge has accepted Flynn's plea of guilty to the one charge of perjury charge related to four separate false statements made to the FBI.
Specifically, Flynn is charged with falsely claiming that he had not asked Russia’s ambassador Sergey Kislyak “to refrain from escalating the situation in response to sanctions that the United States had imposed against Russia that same day” last December 29.
As most legal experts are explaining on news outlets right now, the only reason for Mueller to cut a plea deal with Mike Flynn would be in exchange for information regarding higher up actors in the Russian collusion investigation.
ABC News is reporting that Flynn has promised full cooperation to the Mueller team and is prepared to testify that candidate Trump "directed him to make contact with the Russians.”
Just now: @BrianRoss on @ABC News Special Report: Flynn promised full cooperation to the Mueller team and is prepared to testify that candidate Trump "directed him to make contact with the Russians.” https://t.co/E0tA37GOo0 pic.twitter.com/PmNEO7eekt— Dan Linden (@DanLinden) December 1, 2017
Flynn was forced to step down as national security adviser after the Trump administration revealed he had reportedly lied to Vice President Mike Pence about conversations with Russian actors.
It's worth noting that Flynn is the 4th Trump team member to be charged with a crime following Paul Manafort, Rick Gates and George Papadopoulos.
"This appears almost certainly to be a guilty plea by Michael Flynn." -- @JeffreyToobin— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) December 1, 2017
That Flynn pled to one count, given all his exposure, suggests he got a good deal. Question is, what did he offer prosecutors in exchange?— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) December 1, 2017
NEWS: ABC’s Brian Ross says a source familiar with the matter says Flynn is prepared to testify against Trump, members of his family, Trump staff, & that Trump ordered him to contact the Russians. Ross says Flynn made the decision to cooperate 24 hours ago pic.twitter.com/cSfnKNzrtp— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) December 1, 2017
Just a reminder that Obama warned Trump not to hire Flynn during their Oval Office meeting two days after election https://t.co/2h2pftm8xD pic.twitter.com/evCAC0dE36
— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) December 1, 2017
According to folks on Twitter, it took Flynn 499 days to go from leading "Lock her up" chants at last year's GOP National Convention regarding Hillary Clinton to copping to committing a felony. Let's go back to the videotape.
By the way, you know who's NOT pleading guilty to ANY federal charges today? Hillary Clinton.
"Michael Flynn pleads guilty, care to comment?" pic.twitter.com/2tSV7sCawy— Paul 🏃 (@paulludwig) December 1, 2017
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