Judge blasts Trump ex-adviser Flynn, delays sentencing

A US judge fiercely criticised President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Tuesday for lying to FBI agents and delayed sentencing to ensure Flynn cooperates fully with an investigation into possible collusion between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia.

During the sentencing hearing, US District Judge Emmet Sullivan told the retired lieutenant general that he “arguably” had sold out his country. Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to FBI agents about his conversations with Sergei Kislyak, Russia ambassador to Washington at the time.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller, leading the investigation, had asked the judge not to sentence Flynn to prison because Flynn already had provided “substantial” cooperation to prosecutors over the course of many interviews.

But Sullivan told Flynn his behaviour was abhorrent, noting that Flynn had also lied to White House officials, who in turn lied to the public.

“Arguably, you sold your country out,” Sullivan said. “I’m not hiding my disgust, my disdain for this criminal offence.”

The judge also noted that Flynn was operating as an undeclared lobbyist for Turkey even as he worked on Trump’s election team and prepared to be his national security adviser. He appeared ready to sentence Flynn to prison but then gave him the option of a delay in his sentencing so that he could fully cooperate with any pending investigations. Flynn accepted that offer. Prosecutors said Flynn had already provided most of the cooperation that he could, but it was possible he might be able to help investigators further. 

The judge did not set a new date for sentencing but asked Mueller’s team and Flynn’s lawyer to give him a status report by March 13.

Flynn served as a high-profile adviser to Trump’s election campaign team, and at the Republican Party’s national convention in 2016, he led Trump’s supporters in cries of “Lock her up!” directed against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. He became national security adviser when Trump took office in January 2017 but lasted only 24 days before being removed.

He told FBI investigators on January 24, 2017, that he had not discussed US sanctions against Russia with Kislyak, when in fact he had, according to his plea agreement.

Trump has said he fired Flynn because he also lied to Vice President Mike Pence about the contacts with Kislyak. But Trump has said Flynn did not break the law and has voiced support for him, raising speculation the Republican president might pardon him if he is sentenced.

“Good luck today in court to General Michael Flynn. Will be interesting to see what he has to say, despite tremendous pressure being put on him, about Russian Collusion in our great and, obviously, highly successful political campaign. There was no Collusion!” Trump wrote on Twitter on Tuesday morning. 

Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election and whether Trump has unlawfully sought to obstruct the probe has cast a shadow over his presidency. A series of former Trump aides have pleaded guilty in Mueller’s probe, but Flynn was the first former official of Trump’s White House to plead guilty.

Trump has called the investigation a “witch-hunt” and has denied collusion with Moscow. Russia has denied meddling in the election, contrary to the conclusion of US intelligence agencies that have said Moscow used hacking and propaganda to try to sow discord in the US and boost Trump’s chances against Clinton.

Several protesters were at the court on Tuesday as Flynn arrived, along with a large inflatable rat.

Lying to the FBI carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison. Flynn’s plea agreement stated that he was eligible for a sentence of between zero and six months.