Flynn admits lying to FBI
UNITED STATES Former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty yesterday to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
Court records and people familiar with the contacts indicated he was acting in consultation with senior Trump transition officials, including President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, in his dealings with the diplomat.
Flynn’s admission to the chargein federal district court in the District of Columbia could be an ominous sign for the White House, as Flynn is co-operating in the ongoing probe of possible coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin to influence the 2016 election. His plea revealed that he was in touch with senior Trump transition officials before and after his communications with Kislyak – rebutting the idea that he was a rogue operator.
Flynn said in a statement: ‘‘It has been extraordinarily painful to endure these many months of false accusations of ‘treason’ and other outrageous acts. Such false accusations are contrary to everything I have ever done and stood for. But I recognise that the actions I acknowledged in court today were wrong, and, through my faith in God, I amworking to set things right.
‘‘My guilty plea and agreement to co-operate 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 admitted in his plea that he lied to the FBI about several December conversations with Kislyak. In one, on December 22, he contacted the Russian ambassador about the incoming administration’s opposition to a UN resolution condemning Israeli settlements as illegal and requested that Russia vote against or delay it, court records say.
The ambassador later called back and indicated Russia would not vote against it, the records say.
In another conversation, on December 29, Flynn called the ambassador to ask Russia not escalate an ongoing feud over sanctions imposed by the Obama administration, court records say. The ambassador later called back and said Russia had chosen not to retaliate, the records say.
Flynn admitted as a part of his plea that when the FBI asked him on January 24 – four days after Donald Trump was inaugurated – about his dealings with the Russians, he did not truthfully describe the interactions. But perhaps more interestingly, he said others in the transition knew what he was up to.
Flynn admitted that he called a senior transition official, whose name is not listed in court records, at the Mar-a-Lago resort on December 29 ‘‘to discuss what, if anything, to communicate to the Russian ambassador about the US Sanctions.’’ And when the ambassador later informed him Russia would not retaliate, Flynn again told senior members of the transition team, court records say.
The records say that a ‘‘very senior member of the Presidential Transition Team’’ directed Flynn to contact officials from foreign governments, including Russia, about the UN resolution on Israel. That official is also not named, but people familiar with the matter said it refers to Kushner. Abbe Lowell, Kusher’s attorney, declined to comment.
Flynn is the highest-profile Trump ally – and the first aide who worked in the White House – to face charges in special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation. Trump developed a close rapport with Flynn on the campaign trail, where the general delivered fiery denunciations of Hillary Clinton, including leading a ‘‘Lock her up!’’ chant at the Republican National Convention.
Outside the courthouse yesterday, a small group of protesters shouted ‘‘Lock him up!’’ at Flynn as he left the building.
The Washington Post reported in February that Flynn had privately discussed US sanctions against Russia with that country’s ambassador before Trump took office, contrary to public assertions by Trump officials. Soon after that, acting attorney general Sally Yates warned the White House that the national security adviser might be susceptible to Russian blackmail because he had misled senior officials.
Flynn was forced to resign, but even after that, Trump said that his ouster might have been a mistake.
Trump’s request of then-FBI Director James Comey to be lenient with Flynn has also come under scrutiny by the special counsel, and Flynn’s co-operation could probe important to Mueller’s ongoing probe of BLOOMBERG whether the president attempted to obstruct justice.
Trump has said previously that he did not direct Flynn to discuss sanctions with the Russian ambassador but that he ‘‘would have directed him because that’s his job.’’ There is a law – the Logan Act – that bars US citizens from interfering in diplomatic disputes with another country.
But the statute has not been used in a prosecution in modern history, and it would not be uncommon for incoming administrations to interface with foreign governments with whom they will soon have to work.
In a statement on Flynn’s guilty plea, White House lawyer Ty Cobb said: ‘‘The false statements involved mirror the false statements to White House officials which resulted in his resignation in February of this year.
‘‘Nothing about the guilty plea or the charge implicates anyone other than Mr Flynn. The conclusion of this phase of the Special Counsel’s work demonstrates again that the Special Counsel is moving with all deliberate speed and clears the way for a prompt and reasonable conclusion.’’ - Washington Post