Mueller recommends no jail time for ex-Trump aide after 'substantial' cooperation in Russia probe
Donald Trump’s former national security adviser provided so much information to a probe into alleged Russian collusion that prosecutors say he should not be jailed, according to court papers.
Michael Flynn’s cooperation with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation was described as “substantial” in a legal submission that provides the first details of the former aide’s assistance in the probe.
The papers, which said he participated in 19 interviews with prosecutors, were filed two weeks ahead of Flynn’s sentencing for lying to the FBI about conversations with the Russian ambassador on Trump’s behalf.
Though prosecutors withheld specific details of Flynn’s cooperation because of ongoing investigations, their filing nonetheless underscores the breadth of how much information Mueller has obtained from people close to Trump.
The president has been increasingly venting his anger at the probe — and those who cooperate with it.
Earlier this week, Trump lashed out at his former legal fixer, Michael Cohen, saying he is making up “stories” to get a reduced prison sentence after his latest guilty plea to lying to Congress.
Trump also praised longtime confidante Roger Stone for saying he would “never testify against Trump,” adding in a tweet: “Nice to know some people still have ‘guts!'”
It is unclear if Trump will now turn his fury on Flynn, a retired US Army lieutenant general who Trump grew close to during the 2016 campaign and tried to protect by asking former FBI Director James Comey to let the investigation go.
That episode is among those under scrutiny by Mueller as he probes whether Trump attempted to obstruct the Russia investigation.
Federal sentencing guidelines recommend between zero and six months in prison for Flynn, leaving open the possibility of probation.
Flynn’s case has been a contrast to those of other Trump associates, who have aggressively criticised and tried to undermine the Russia probe.
Most notably, Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, aggressively fought the investigation and is now facing the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence after his cooperation agreement recently fell apart over allegations that he had lied to investigators.
Stone has also waged a public campaign against Mueller.
But Flynn has largely remained out of the public eye, appearing only a handful of times in media interviews or campaign events, and he has strictly avoided criticising the Mueller probe despite widespread encouragement from his supporters to go on the offensive.
He has instead spent considerable time with his family and worked to position himself for a post-conviction career.
Flynn’s false statements stemmed from a January 24 2017 interview with the FBI about his and others’ interactions with Sergey Kislyak, Russia’s then-ambassador to the US.
It took place as the Obama administration was levying sanctions on the Kremlin in response to election interference.
As part of his plea deal, Flynn said members of Trump’s inner circle, including his son-in-law and White House aide Jared Kushner, were involved in — and at times directing — his actions in the weeks before Trump took office.
According to court papers, in mid-December 2016, Kushner directed Flynn to reach out to several countries, including Russia, about a UN Security Council resolution regarding Israeli settlements.
During those conversations with Kislyak, Flynn asked Russia to delay or vote against the resolution, a request the Kremlin ultimately rejected.
Flynn also admitted that later in December 2016 he asked Kislyak not to retaliate in response to the Obama administration sanctions, something he initially told FBI agents he did not do.
Flynn made the request after discussing it with deputy national security adviser KT McFarland, who was at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, and being told that Trump’s transition team did not want Russia to escalate the situation.
Flynn was forced to resign his post on February 13 2017 after news reports revealed that Obama administration officials had warned Trump’s White House about Flynn’s false statements.
The White House has said Flynn misled officials— including Vice President Mike Pence — about the content of his conversations.
Flynn also admitted to making false statements about unregistered foreign agent work he performed for the benefit of the Turkish government.
Flynn was under investigation by the Justice Department for the work when he became national security adviser.