Will testify in Russia probe if given immunity: Flynn
EXNSA’S offer indicates he expects legal trouble
US President Donald Trump’s sacked national security adviser Michael Flynn has made an offer to the FBI and congressional panels probing Russian meddling in US polls to testify in return for immunity from prosecution.
The Wall Street Journal, which first reported this development, however, said there was no response to his offer from any of the three entities. Immunity is usually granted when investigators expect to snare a bigger fish.
Flynn was forced to resign just days into President Trump’s presidency in January for not telling senior White House officials, including vice-president Mike Pence, the truth about his interactions with the Russian ambassador to the US.
But he has continued to enjoy the support of the president, who came to his aid once again on Friday, tweeting, “Mike Flynn should ask for immunity in that this is a witch hunt (excuse for big election loss), by media & Dems, of historic proportion!”
Flynn’s lawyer confirmed his client was in talks with the congressional panels about his testimony offer.
Flynn’s offer to testify comes amid allegations of White House trying to influence an investigation being conducted by the intelligence committee of the US House of Representatives in Rus- sian meddling and alleged collusion by some of Trump campaign aides. His offer was said to indicate he might be expecting legal problems.
Flynn started out a close foreign policy adviser to Trump as a candidate and was among the new President’s first appointments as his national security adviser.
Flynn had multiple contacts with Russian envoy Sergei Kislyak, especially on the day Barack Obama announced a slew of sanctions against Moscow for the election interference.
Flynn was also present at a meeting the envoy had with the president-elect’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who has since offered to testify before the congressional panels, about his interactions, including talks with the head of a Russian bank sanctioned by Obama after Crimea.