Flynn’s sentencing postponed
WASHINGTON: A federal judge excoriated Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s first national security adviser, before postponing his sentencing yesterday for lying to the FBI.
‘‘Arguably, you sold your country out’’ by secretly working as an unregistered agent for Turkey while serving as an adviser to Trump, US District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan told Flynn.
Sullivan had earlier offered to postpone the sentencing until after the trial of two of Flynn’s former associates, who are charged with working with him on Turkey’s behalf. Flynn has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
Flynn’s attorney said he would accept the offer and Sullivan agreed to postpone sentencing until that case was finished.
‘‘I’m not making any promises’’ about sparing Flynn from prison time, the judge warned.
Sullivan asked both Flynn and his attorney to publicly acknowledge he had lied, that he was aware that lying to the FBI was illegal and that he had pleaded guilty because he was guilty.
The judge then proceeded to denounce Flynn’s conduct, both for lying and for acting on Turkey’s behalf without disclosing his action, a separate federal crime.
Flynn has admitted he acted as an agent for Turkey and did not disclose it as required, although prosecutors agreed not to charge him for it.
The public humiliation capped the stunning fall, at least for now, of the decorated war veteran who landed one of the most powerful positions in government but was forced out after only 23 days. — TCA