President Trump’s Former National Security Adviser Michael T. Flynn Pleads Guilty to Lying to the FBI in Russian Election Meddling Investigation
By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017
President Donald J. Trump’s former national security adviser Michael T. Flynn pleaded guilty on Friday, December 1, 2017, to a felony count of making false statements to FBI Agents regarding his contacts with the Russian Ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, before United States District Judge Rudolph Contreras of the District of Columbia Division in Washington, D.C.
According to the Statement of the Offense filed with the U.S. District Court, Flynn “served as a surrogate and a national security advisor for the presidential campaign of Donald J. Trump (“Campaign”), as a senior member of the President-Elect Trump’s Transition Team (“Presidential Transition Team”), and as the National Security Advisor to President Trump, made materially false statements and omissions during an interview with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) on January 24, 2017, in Washington, D.C.. At the time of the interview, the FBI had an open investigation into the the Government of Russia’s (“Russia”) efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, including the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Campaign and Russia, and whether there was any coordination between the Campaign and Russia’s efforts.”
“Flynn’s false statements and omissions impeded and otherwise had a material impact on the FBI’s ongoing investigation into the existence of any links or coordination between individuals associated with the Campaign and Russia’s efforts to interfere with the 2016 presidential election,” stated the Statement of Offense.
Generally, Flynn lied to the FBI regarding his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and what he had discussed with Kislyak during those conversations at his January 24, 2017 interview with FBI Agents. Flynn knew that his statements to the FBI Agents were materially false.
The plea deal was reached between Special Counsel Robert Mueller and Flynn’s attorneys and Flynn himself.
Flynn faces a potential maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of community supervision, a $100 special assessment, restitution and other possible fines or fees.
Flynn stated that “My guilty plea and agreement to cooperate with the Special Counsel’s Office reflect a decision I made in the best interests of my family and of our country. I accept full responsibility for my actions.”
Flynn is the highest level Trump ally to be charged with a criminal violation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the first Trump White House Adviser to be charged and pleaded guilty in the Russian Election Meddling Investigation.
Flynn has agreed to cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russian Investigation as part of his plea deal.
Most importantly, Flynn stated that he had been directed by Senior Trump Transition Team members to contact Russian Ambassador Sergey Kilsyak, opening the door to a further detailed investigation on who or how many other Trump Campaign, Transition Team, or White House Advisers may have been involved in contacts with the Russians.
