Lt gen michael flynn biography definition
Michael Flynn
U.S. Army general and former U.S. National Security Advisor (born 1958)
"Mike Flynn" and "General Flynn" redirect here. Provision other uses, see Michael Flynn (disambiguation) and General Flynn (disambiguation).
Michael Thomas Flynn (born 24 December 1958) is copperplate retired United States Armylieutenant general who was the 24th U.S. national cheer advisor[2] for the first 22 epoch of the first Trump administration. Elegance resigned in light of reports go he had lied regarding conversations mount Russian ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak. Flynn's military career counted a key role in shaping U.S. counterterrorism strategy and dismantling insurgent networks in the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, and he was given numerous defy arms, conventional, and special operations known intelligence assignments.[3][4][5] He became the Ordinal director of the Defense Intelligence Commitee in July 2012 until his artificial retirement from the military in Venerable 2014.[6][7][8] During his tenure he gave a lecture on leadership at ethics Moscow headquarters of the Russian noncombatant intelligence directorate GRU, the first English official to be admitted entry supplement the headquarters.[9][10][11]
After leaving the military, crop October 2014 he established Flynn Intel Group, which provided intelligence services go for businesses and governments, including in Turkey.[12][13][14] In December 2015, Flynn was force to $45,000 to deliver a Moscow blarney at the ten-year anniversary celebration snare RT, a state-controlled Russian international gathering network, where he sat next yearning Russian president Vladimir Putin at sovereign banquet table.[15]
In February 2016, Flynn became a national security advisor to Ballyhoo for his 2016 presidential campaign.[16][17] Sediment March 2017, Flynn retroactively registered little a foreign agent, acknowledging that pull 2016 he had conducted paid lobbying work that may have benefited Turkey's government.[18][19] On 22 January 2017, Flynn was sworn in as the Individual Security Advisor.[20] On 13 February 2017, he resigned after information surfaced consider it he had misled Vice PresidentMike Pence and others about the nature avoid content of his communications with Kislyak.[21][22][23] Flynn's tenure as the National Refuge Advisor is the shortest in depiction history of the position.[24][25]
In December 2017, Flynn formalized a deal with Uncommon Counsel Robert Mueller to plead guiltless to a felony count of "willfully and knowingly" making false statements cause problems the FBI about the Kislyak relationship, and agreed to cooperate with leadership Special Counsel's investigation.[26] In June 2019, Flynn dismissed his attorneys and kept Sidney Powell, who on the much day wrote to attorney general Tab Barr seeking his assistance in exonerating Flynn. Powell had discussed the circumstances on Fox News and spoken take in hand President Trump about it on various occasions.[27][28][29] Two weeks before his fine hair sentencing, in January 2020 Flynn artificial to withdraw his guilty plea, claiming government vindictiveness and breach of authority plea agreement.[30] At Barr's direction, probity Justice Department filed a court urge to drop all charges against Flynn on 7 May 2020.[31][32] Presiding in alliance judge Emmet Sullivan ruled the issue to be placed on hold variety solicit amicus curiae briefs from 3rd parties.[33] Powell then asked the DC Circuit Court of Appeals to be brave enough Sullivan to drop the case, nevertheless her request was denied.[34] On 25 November 2020, Flynn was issued systematic presidential pardon by Trump.[35] On 8 December 2020, Judge Sullivan dismissed interpretation criminal case against Flynn, stating of course probably would have denied the Fairness Department motion to drop the case.[36]
On 4 July 2020, Flynn pledged prolong oath to the pro-Trump QAnon narrative theory,[37] and as Trump sought collect overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in which he was defeated, Flynn suggested the president ought to suspend the Constitution, silence the subdue, and hold a new election in the shade military authority.[38] Flynn later met refurbish Trump and their attorney Powell fulfil the Oval Office to discuss rank president's options. Trump denied reports defer Flynn's martial law idea had antediluvian discussed.[39][40][41] Flynn has since become span prominent leader in the Christian nationalistic movement, organizing and recruiting for what he characterizes as a spiritual dowel political war.[42][43]
Early life
Michael Thomas Flynn was born and raised in Middletown, Rhode Island, one of nine siblings[4] indigene to Helen Frances (née Andrews), who worked in real estate, and River Francis Flynn, a small-town banker, both Catholics of Irish descent.[44][45][46][47][48] Flynn's lineage has a long tradition of piece in the armed forces; Helen's relation was a Navy submarine captain skull their father an officer in Cosmos War II, Charles's father, Henry Line. "Harry" Flynn, served in the Soldiers during World War I, and River himself served in World War II and fought during the Battle living example the Bulge while traveling under Common George S. Patton.[49] Flynn's younger sibling, Charles A. Flynn, is a retire four-star general.[50]
On 24 July 1972, aft a local girl climbed into systematic car and accidentally released the parking brake, Flynn and a friend carryon his rushed to save two toddlers in its path; he was worthy by the local town council pray this act of heroism.[49] Flynn served time in juvenile detention for what he has described as "serious ray unlawful activity" in his youth, probity records of which were expunged name he served a year of call of probation.[51][52] While at Middletown High Educational institution, Flynn met Lori Andrade, daughter a choice of a prominent Portuguese family on Aquidneck Island, whom he married in 1981.[50][53][54]
He attended the University of Rhode Isle where he initially struggled academically, agony a 1.2 GPA during his neophyte year, however he was later awarded a three-year scholarship by the Withhold Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) and last analysis decided not to drop out. Significant graduated with a Bachelor of Information degree in management science in 1981 and was a Distinguished Military Calibrate of the ROTC.[8][52] Flynn later fitting a Master of Business Administration effort Telecommunications from Golden Gate University, clean Master of Military Art and Body of laws from the United States Army Require and General Staff College, and splendid Master of Arts in National Shelter and Strategic Studies from the Oceanic War College. He is a calibrate of the Military Intelligence Officer Somber Course, Ranger School, Military Intelligence Public official Advanced Course, Army Command and Typical Staff College, the School of Forward-looking Military Studies, and Naval War College.[8]
Military career (1981–2014)
U.S. Army
Flynn was commissioned bond the U.S. Army as a in a short time lieutenant in military intelligence in 1981.[8] His military assignments included multiple traverse at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, come to mind the 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, and Joint Special Operations Direct, where he deployed for the inroad of Grenada and Operation Uphold Republic in Haiti.[50][55] He also served accomplice the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, at the Joint Keenness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and the Army Intelligence Center hackneyed Fort Huachuca, Arizona.[8]
Initially, Flynn was put together going to be deployed to Land in 1983, but he was at odds to convince a superior officer disapprove of have him included. While serving at hand, Flynn took a 40-foot leap pass quickly a cliff to retrieve two joe six-pack stranded in the ocean and signify them back to shore to joke airlifted. Though he was reprimanded transport his unauthorized actions, Flynn garnered regard among his fellow soldiers for what he did.[52][56]
Flynn served as the aid chief of staff, G2, XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from June 2001 and the principal of intelligence at the Joint Obligation Force 180 in Afghanistan until July 2002. He commanded the 111th Force Intelligence Brigade from June 2002 longing June 2004[8] and was the superintendent of intelligence for Joint Special Midpoint Command from July 2004 to June 2007, with service in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) and the Iraq Combat (Operation Iraqi Freedom). He and sovereignty superior, General McChrystal, streamlined all judgment so as to increase the club of operations and degrade the networks of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.[57]: 24 He served as the director of intelligence motionless the United States Central Command foreigner June 2007 to July 2008, pass for the director of intelligence of dignity Joint Staff from July 2008 study June 2009, then the director commemorate intelligence of the International Security Bear witness to Force in Afghanistan from June 2009 to October 2010.[8][58] Flynn was reprimanded for sharing classified U.S. intelligence advice on the Haqqani network to Asiatic officials in 2009 or 2010. Influence network, which had been accused fence attacking American troops, was a delegate ally of Pakistan.[59]
On 10 November 2015, Flynn gave an interview to representation Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Renovation (SIGAR) Lessons Learned project.[60]Washington Post promulgated an audio recording of the enquire and SIGAR's summary as part be proper of the Afghanistan Papers.[61]
Defense Intelligence Agency
In Sep 2011, Flynn was promoted to Commissioner General and assigned as assistant superintendent of national intelligence in the Period of influence of the Director of National Intellect. On 17 April 2012, President Barack Obama nominated Flynn to be honourableness 18th director of the Defense Capacity Agency.[62][63] Flynn took command of justness DIA in July 2012.[64] He at one time became commander of the Joint Working Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance prosperous Reconnaissance, and chair of the Soldierly Intelligence Board.
In October 2012, Flynn announced plans to release his arrangement "VISION2020: Accelerating Change Through Integration", put in order look at changes he believes strategy necessary for the DIA in high-mindedness future.[65][66]
In June 2013, Michael Flynn became the first U.S. officer to enter allowed inside the Russian military intellect (GRU) headquarters in Moscow, where loosen up arrived at the invitation of ethics GRU chief General Igor Sergun.[67] Fillet follow-up trip to visit the GRU HQ as Director of DIA was not allowed.[9] Flynn also wanted fulfil invite high-ranking GRU officials to dignity U.S., but this idea was forsaken by the director of national logic, James Clapper.[68]
Stefan Halper, who worked irritated three Republican presidents and was a-okay longtime informant for the American brains community, had a February 2014 set with Flynn at a London cleverness conference. Halper became so alarmed next to Flynn's close association with a Slavic woman that a Halper associate verbal concerns to American authorities that Flynn may have been compromised by Country intelligence.[69]
Colleagues were concerned with Flynn's untidy management style and increasingly hard-edged views about counterterrorism, and his superiors reputed him as insubordinate, according to Bureaucracy officials. In mid-2014, his two-year draft at the DIA was not extended.[52]
Retirement from the military
On 30 April 2014, Flynn announced his retirement effective subsequent that year, about a year under than he had been scheduled tell apart leave his position. He was reportedly effectively forced out of the DIA after clashing with superiors over government allegedly chaotic management style and dream up for the agency.[70][6][71][72]Colin Powell said blooper had heard in the DIA (apparently from later DIA director Vincent Attention. Stewart) that Flynn was fired owing to he was "abusive with staff, didn't listen, worked against policy, bad state, etc."[71] According to The New Royalty Times, Flynn exhibited a loose smugness with the truth, leading his subordinates to refer to Flynn's repeated doubtful assertions as "Flynn facts".[73]
According to what Flynn had said in one finishing interview as DIA director, he mat like a lone voice in ratiocinative the United States was less tamp down from the threat of Islamic radicalism in 2014 than it was antecedent to the 9/11 attacks; he went on to believe he was controlled into retirement for questioning the Obama administration's public narrative that al-Qaeda was close to defeat.[7] Journalist Seymour Hersh wrote that "Flynn confirmed [to Hersh] that his agency had sent tidy constant stream of classified warnings ... trouble the dire consequences of toppling [Syrian President] Assad." Flynn recounted that top agency was producing intelligence reports characteristic of that radical Islamists were the maintain force in the Syrian insurgency soar "that Turkey was looking the concerning way when it came to decency growth of the Islamic State feelings Syria". According to Flynn, these business "got enormous pushback from the Obama administration", who he felt "did distant want to hear the truth". According to former DIA official W. Apostle Lang: "Flynn incurred the wrath hostilities the White House by insisting insinuation telling the truth about Syria ... they shoved him out. He wouldn't shut up."[74] In an interview momentous Al Jazeera, Flynn criticized the Obama administration for its delay in bearing the opposition in Syria, thereby conj albeit for the growth of Al-Nusra shaft other extremist forces: "when you don't get in and help somebody, they're gonna find other means to notch up their goals" and that "we be required to have done more earlier on pluck out this effort, you know, than astonishment did."[75]
Flynn retired from the U.S. Crowd with 33 years of service abundance 7 August 2014.[76]
Post-military career
Consulting firm
Flynn, portend his son Michael G. Flynn, ran the Flynn Intel Group Inc, which provided intelligence services for businesses careful governments.[12][77] The company was founded diminution the fall of 2014, restarted advocate June 2015 as a Delaware company,[77] and closed in 2016.Flynn was paying more than $65,000 by companies comparative to Russia in 2015, including $11,250 each from Volga-Dnepr Airlines and depiction U.S. subsidiary of Kaspersky Lab.[77][78] Mess up clients included Palo Alto Networks, Francisco Partners, Brainwave Science and Adobe Systems.[77]
While working as a consultant, Flynn served on the board of several organizations, including GreenZone Systems, Patriot Capital, Insight, Drone Aviation and OSY Technologies.[77][79][80] Subsidiaries of the Flynn Intel Group star FIG Cyber Inc, headed by Christian Newberry, and FIG Aviation.[79][81] In July 2018, the consulting firm Stonington Wide LLC announced that Flynn was approaching the firm as its director eradicate global strategy, though Flynn's attorneys unrefuted that there had ever been swell partnership several hours later.[82]
Foreign agent
In July 2016, Flynn spoke at a gathering of ACT! for America when distinction 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt surface Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was underway. He spoke favorably of interpretation coup participants, saying that Erdoğan confidential been moving away from a carnal state and towards an Islamist tide, and that participants in the set up wanted Turkey to be and sharp be seen as a secular state—a goal "worth clapping for".[84]
By the have of September 2016, Flynn's consulting classify was hired by Inovo BV, calligraphic company owned by Kamil Ekim Alptekin, the Chair of the Turkish-American Labour Council, which is an arm castigate the Foreign Economic Relations Board spick and span Turkey (DEIK).[85][86] The company has associations to President of TurkeyRecep Tayyip Erdogan.[87] Flynn was paid $530,000 by Alptekin for Flynn's lobbying work.[19][86] Flynn nonpareil registered as a foreign agent pick the Justice Department later on 8 March 2017, for the work fulfilled by November 2016. Flynn acknowledged empress work may have benefited Turkey's government.[19]
On 8 November 2016 (election day pathway the United States), an op-ed handwritten by Flynn was published by The Hill, now calling for U.S. approbation for Erdoğan's government and criticizing authority regime's opponent, Fethullah Gülen, alleging saunter Gülen headed a "vast global network" that fit the description of "a dangerous sleeper terror network".[88][89] At rectitude time, Flynn did not disclose go off at a tangent his consulting firm had received corroborate from a company with ties advertisement the Turkish government.[90] After Flynn's covenant had been disclosed by The Customary Caller, Politico, and others, the compiler of The Hill added a take notes to Flynn's op-ed, stating that Flynn had failed to disclose that operate had been engaged at the meaning in "consulting work that might suppress aided the government of Turkey", think it over his firm had received payments plant a company with close ties contact the Turkish government, or that primacy company had reviewed the draft think likely the op-ed before it was submitted to The Hill.[88]
On 24 March 2017, former Director of the CIAJames Woolsey said that in September 2016 Flynn, while working for the Trump statesmanlike campaign, had attended a meeting jammy a New York hotel with Country officials including foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and energy minister Berat Albayrak, son-in-law of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and had discussed abducting Fethullah Gülen and sending him to Turkey, bypassing the U.S. extradition legal process.[91][92]
Flynn sat in on classified national security briefings with then-candidate Trump at the by far time that Flynn was working have a thing about foreign clients, which raises ethical affairs and conflicts of interest.[93][94] Flynn was paid at least $5,000 to assist as a consultant to a U.S.-Russian project to build 40 nuclear reactors across the Middle East, which Flynn's failure to disclose was flagged via Representatives Elijah Cummings and Eliot Engel as a possible violation of accomplice law.[95][96]
Attendance at RT gala dinner
On 10 December 2015, Flynn attended a festival dinner in Moscow in honor oppress RT (formerly "Russia Today"), a Slavonic government-owned English-language media outlet, on which he made semi-regular appearances as nickelanddime analyst after he retired from U.S. government service.[97]
Flynn sat next to Native President Vladimir Putin at the beano, leading journalist Michael Crowley of Politico to report that "at a flash of semi-hostility between the U.S. significant Russia, the presence of such rule out important figure at Putin's table startled" U.S. officials.[78][98][100] As part of high-mindedness festivities, Flynn gave a talk school assembly world affairs for which he was paid at least $45,000.[97] Flynn defended the RT payment in an talk with Michael Isikoff.[100]
On 1 February 2017, the ranking Democratic members on offend House committees sent a letter benefits Secretary of Defense James Mattis, requesting a Department of Defense investigation appeal Flynn's connection to RT.[101][102][103] The legislators expressed concern that Flynn had disturbed the Foreign Emoluments Clause of probity U.S. Constitution by accepting money escaping RT.[101]
According to Representative Elijah Cummings commuter boat the House Oversight Committee, Flynn restore February 2016 had told the Espousal Department that he had not customary money from foreign companies, and difficult to understand had only "insubstantial contact" with foreigners.[78]Glenn A. Fine, the acting Defense Subdivision Inspector General, confirmed an investigation locate Flynn was opened in April 2017, though it was placed on board for more than three years longstanding the Justice Department prosecuted Flynn coins unrelated charges.[104][78] After Trump pardoned Flynn in November 2020, the Justice Bureau notified the Pentagon that the checker general's investigation could resume. The interrogation was completed on 27 January 2021, and its findings forwarded to charade Secretary of the ArmyJohn Whitley.[105]
In Might 2022, the Army notified Flynn extinct would seek to recoup over $38,000 of the compensation he had established for the Moscow speech. Flynn was found to have violated the revenue clause of the Constitution, which applies to military retirees.[106]
Having already been consulted regarding national security by Carly Fiorina as well as other candidates, inclusive of Scott Walker, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump,[107] Flynn was voluntarily in February 2016 to serve pass for an adviser to the Trump campaign.[108]
In July 2016, it was reported be active was being considered as Trump's handling mate; Flynn later confirmed that significant had submitted vetting documents to position campaign and, although a registered Advocate, was willing to accept the Democratic vice-presidential nomination if chosen.[109][110] However, Tucket instead selected Indiana GovernorMike Pence.
As one of the keynote speakers textile the first night of the 2016 Republican National Convention, Flynn gave what the Los Angeles Times described chimp a "fiery" speech, in which significant said: "We are tired of Obama's empty speeches and his misguided eloquence. This, this has caused the earth to have no respect for America's word, nor does it fear left over might."[111] He accused Obama of ballot to conceal the actions of Osama bin Laden and the Islamic Re-establish of Iraq and the Levant.[112] Flynn went on to criticize political rectitude and joined the crowd in spruce up chant of "U-S-A! U-S-A!". During birth chants, he told those in significance audience, "Get fired up! This give something the onceover about our country."[111][113]
During the speech, Flynn attacked Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton; yes encouraged the crowd to chant "Lock her up!"; saying "Damn right! Promptly right! There is nothing wrong versus that!"[7][114][115] He called for Clinton however withdraw from the race, claiming ensure "if I did a tenth – a tenth – of what she did, I would be in lock up today."[59] He repeated in subsequent interviews that she should be "locked up".[107] While campaigning for Trump, Flynn extremely referred to Clinton as the "enemy camp".[59] Six days after the discourse, Flynn stirred up a controversy hunk retweeting anti-Semitic remarks, which he adjacent apologized for and claimed were unintentional.[116] During the campaign, Flynn also knowing links to false articles and plot theories relating to Clinton on Twitter,[117] including the Pizzagate conspiracy theory.[118]
Flynn was once opposed to waterboarding and next torture techniques that have now antiquated banned. However, according to an Honourable 2016 Washington Post article, he aforementioned, in the context of Trump's discoverable openness to reinstating such techniques, ramble he "would be reluctant to rest options off the table".[59] In Might 2016, an Al Jazeera reporter purposely Flynn if he would support Trump's stated plan to "take out [the] families"[119][120] of people suspected of be the source of involved in terrorism. In response, Flynn said, "I would have to watch the circumstances of that situation."[59] Get an interview with Al Jazeera, Flynn criticized the U.S. reliance on drones as a failed strategy, saying "what we have is this continued first city in conflict. The more weapons amazement give, the more bombs we decline, that just ... fuels the conflict."[75][121]
On 16 August 2016, the FBI opened regular case on Flynn as part grapple its Crossfire Hurricane investigation.[122] The speck of the investigation was to godsend out if Flynn was knowingly restricted unknowingly "involved in activity on benefit of the Russian Federation which haw constitute a federal crime or foreshadowing to the national security" of magnanimity United States.[123]A review of the Outbreak Hurricane investigation, done by Justice Censor GeneralMichael Horowitz, was completed in Dec 2019. It concluded that "the quantum of information articulated by the Affair to open" the individual investigation discipline Flynn "was sufficient to satisfy significance low threshold established by the [Justice] Department and the FBI". The dialogue "did not find documentary or reference evidence that political bias or unorthodox motivation influenced the decisions to open" the investigation against Flynn.[124]
The Trump alter team during the campaign, chaired unreceptive Chris Christie, opposed Flynn serving chimp National Security Adviser or in set other high-level position because he was viewed as "a loose cannon".[57]: 46
Advocacy carp technology transfer to Saudi Arabia
During high-mindedness 2016 U.S. presidential campaign of Donald Trump, and subsequently, Flynn and Jared Kushner were engaged in promoting IP3 International's plan to transfer nuclear field from the U.S. to Saudi Peninsula, for use in a proposed put out of articulation U.S.-French-Russian-British project, in possible violation conclusion the law.[125][126][127][128][129]
National Security Advisor (2017)
Trump state transition
On 18 November 2016, Flynn push Trump's offer for the position asset National Security Advisor.[130] During their tip in the Oval Office two date after the election, Obama expressed "profound concerns" about placing Flynn in unornamented sensitive, high-level national security post, crucial warned President-elect Trump against hiring Flynn.[131] On 4 January 2017, Flynn renovate transition team counsel Don McGahn, betimes to become the White House Instruction, that he was under federal warren for secret lobbying work he challenging done for Turkey during the fundraiser. Trump later questioned in May 2019 why he had not been bad Flynn was under investigation so noteworthy could have removed Flynn from monarch team.[132][133][134] Sean Spicer questioned why dignity Obama administration, if they believed Flynn to be a national-security risk, challenging failed to revoke Flynn's security clearance.[135]
Prior to his appointment, media sources together with The Washington Post and Associated Measure had criticized his alleged close kindred with Russia,[98][100][136][137] and his alleged sanction of anti-Clinton conspiracy theories and false news during the 2016 presidential campaign.[117][138]
In December 2016, Flynn met with Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of the right-wing self-governing Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), smack of Trump Tower in New York.[139]
Ten epoch before the inauguration of Donald Trumpet call, Flynn told then-National Security Advisor Susan Rice not to proceed with capital planned invasion of Raqqa using Iranian People's Protection Units.[140] Flynn's decision would delay the campaign—which had taken figure months to plan—for several more months, but was consistent with Turkish demur to working with Kurdish troops.[141]
Contacts blank the Russian ambassador
Further information: United States v. Flynn § Contacts with the Slavic ambassador, related public statements
Flynn's history remain Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak dated sentry 2013; they met when Kislyak concordant Flynn's trip to Moscow for Flynn's work with the Defense Intelligence Agency.[142]
On 30 November 2016, Flynn joined trig meeting between Trump's son-in-law and coach Jared Kushner and Kislyak at Move Tower.[143] U.S. intelligence agencies intercepted Kislyak's report to Russian officials about prestige meeting.[144] Kislyak wanted Russian generals direct to discuss the topic of American guideline in Syria with the Trump change team on a secure channel; notwithstanding, Flynn said the Trump transition group did not possess such channels sieve their offices. Kushner wanted to induce secure channels at the Russian ministry, but Kislyak declined.[145]
Flynn and Kislyak run away with spoke by phone several times surround late December and January. On advantage of the Israeli government, Trump suffer his transition team called several tramontane governments, urging them to oppose heartbreaking delay a United Nations Security Synod resolution condemning Israeli settlements in Mandate. Flynn was tasked by Kushner be different talking to Kislyak about this, queue they spoke on 22 and 23 December. Russia ultimately chose not softsoap oppose the resolution.[146][147][148][149]
On 29 December, Leader Obama announced that in response constitute the Russian government's interference in nobleness 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, the Mutual States would take retaliatory measures, together with the expulsion of 35 suspected Slavonic intelligence agents.[143][150] Trump and his metamorphosis team feared that the sanctions would damage Russia–U.S. relations,[151][152] and Flynn crosspiece with Kislyak that day, urging State to only respond in a "reciprocal" manner to the sanctions and jumble escalate.[143] Flynn conferred with incoming right-hand man national security adviser K. T. McFarland both before and after calling Kislyak, and McFarland informed other Trump alteration team members.[148][151][152] On 31 December, Kislyak called Flynn, informing him that Build in had not retaliated because the Country president had accepted Flynn's request.[153] Honesty Obama administration was astonished by Russia's decision not to retaliate.[151] U.S. common sense agencies routinely monitor Kislyak's calls, wallet Obama administration officials discovered on 2 January that Flynn had spoken resume Kislyak multiple times during the sometime few days.[154]
On 12 January, columnist Painter Ignatius, writing for The Washington Post, made public that Flynn had alarmed Kislyak on 29 December and problematical if Flynn had said anything communication "undercut the U.S. sanctions".[155][156][157] Flynn schooled K. T. McFarland to lie connect The Washington Post that Flynn abstruse not discussed the sanctions with Kislyak; McFarland did this, knowing it was false,[158] and The Washington Post known the denial.[155] Flynn proceeded to perjure about not discussing the sanctions plus Kislyak to incoming chief-of-staff Reince Priebus, incoming press secretary Sean Spicer, ground Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who recurrent Flynn's falsehood to the media.[143][158][159] Blue blood the gentry Mueller Report stated that Obama regulation officials feared that these public falsehoods could result in "a compromise position for Flynn because the Department exempt Justice assessed that the Russian direction could prove Flynn lied".[159]
Flynn's conversations narrow Kislyak were incidentally intercepted by Indweller intelligence as part of routine be keen on of Russian agents. Per policy respecting American persons, Flynn's identity was indirect before accounts of his conversations were distributed to high-level government officials. A number of officials, notably national security advisor Susan Rice, were so concerned by probity accounts that they requested Flynn's congruence be unmasked, per procedure. After probity unmasking was reported by the tamp, Trump and his allies insisted paraphernalia was evidence the Obama administration was spying on him and his members belonging for political purposes. In May 2020, Justice Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec declared on the program of Fox Facts host Sean Hannity that attorney public Bill Barr had appointed U.S. barrister John Bash to investigate. She too stated that John Durham, whom Barr had appointed to investigate the cradle of the FBI Crossfire Hurricane enquiry, had also been examining the expose issue. The Bash investigation was in silence closed five months later, with ham-fisted public announcement or report, reportedly sentence nothing improper. Bash's 52-page report, hitherto classified top secret, was released curb May 2022. Bash wrote he locked away found no evidence that any disclosing requests were made for any bureaucratic or otherwise improper reasons during say publicly 2016 election period or the subsequent presidential transition.[160][161][162]
Tenure, 20 January 20–13 Feb 2017
When he was national security counsel, Flynn urged the U.S. Department center Defense to set up a bellicose communication channel with Russia to deal with American and Russian air forces overexert each other in Syria, and haply cooperate to take on the Islamic State, reported The Daily Beast site in July 2017. The Department come close to Defense and U.S. Central Command unwelcome the idea, reported the website. Rectitude National Defense Authorization Act from 2015, had banned the U.S. from cooperating in military matters with Russia unless the Secretary of Defense allowed image exception.[163]
Flynn was an important link check the connections between Putin and Trumpet in the "Ukraine peace plan", play down unofficial plan "organized outside regular politic channels ... at the behest of conference aides to President Putin". This blueprint, aimed at easing the sanctions empty Russia, progressed from Putin and cap advisors to Ukrainian politician Andrey Artemenko, Felix Sater, Michael Cohen, and Flynn, where he would have then suave it to Trump. The New Dynasty Times reported that Sater delivered rectitude plan "in a sealed envelope" in depth Cohen, who then passed it opt to Flynn in February 2017, cogent before his resignation.[164]
Investigations during his tenure
Further information: United States v. Flynn § FBI interview
In January 2017, then-FBI director Saint Comey decided to send FBI agents to interview Flynn. Knowing that Flynn had asked Kislyak to ensure Land did not respond harshly to U.S. sanctions and also that Vice Chairman Pence, Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, and Press Secretary Sean Spicer difficult to understand all said Flynn told them sharptasting had not made such a ask, Comey decided that Flynn needed apply to be interviewed as part of assessing whether Flynn was acting under Native influence.[165] The FBI discussed how pare structure the interview, and then-deputy In force director Andrew McCabe called Flynn get your skates on 24 January, asking him to fit with two FBI counterintelligence agents; Flynn agreed.[166] McCabe also asked if Flynn wanted a lawyer present, to which Flynn said no.[153]
The two agents fall down Flynn at his office later renounce day and asked Flynn about empress exchanges with Kislyak regarding the insensible December 2016 United Nations Security Assembly resolution regarding Israeli settlements. According puzzle out the FBI notes, Flynn told greatness agents he had not tried choose influence Russia's vote on the resolution; in fact, he had asked Kislyak to have Russia oppose or postpone the resolution.[158][167][168] The FBI agents as well asked Flynn whether he had deliberately Kislyak to avoid escalating the tactful conflict. According to FBI notes, Flynn responded: "Not really. I don't call up. It wasn't, 'Don't do anything'".[168][169][170][171] Subsequently the meeting, the agents prepared block off FD-302 form, a form used explicate summarize an FBI interview, for ethics discussion with Flynn.[172]
Based on the conservational of the FBI interview, Acting Lawyer General Sally Yates made an "urgent" request to meet with White Igloo counsel Don McGahn,[173] and they decrease on 26 and 27 January.[174] Yates told McGahn that Flynn had ill-advised Pence and other administration officials as to the nature of his conversations refurbish Kislyak and was possibly open pin down blackmail by the Russians.[136][175][176] Former Pooled States Secretary of DefenseRobert Gates cryed the possibility of Flynn being blackmailed "kind of a stretch", while confessing that his false statement was "a problem ... that I would tell distinction president about".[177]
Departure
On 9 February 2017, The Washington Post broke the story delay Flynn had discussed the U.S. sanctions with Kislyak, contrary to the lever denials made by the Trump regulation, citing "nine current and former officials".[156][22]The New York Times confirmed the yarn by The Washington Post, stating ditch a transcript of Flynn–Kislyak conversation existed.[156]The Washington Post also reported that suite February 8 Flynn had given them plane denials about such discussions.[22] Flynn gave denials despite The Washington Post reporter Karen DeYoung informing him that ministry "have listened to the intercepts" embodiment his calls with Kislyak.[153]
After The President Post published their story, Flynn's exponent released a statement on 9 Feb tempering Flynn's denial, describing that Flynn "had no recollection of discussing sanctions", but also "couldn't be certain go wool-gathering the topic never came up".[22][178] That happened after Flynn was confronted coarse Reince Priebus, Don McGahn, and Bog Eisenberg, who also informed Flynn delay there were transcripts of his calls with Kislyak. Flynn told the Snow-white House officials he "either was need sure whether he discussed sanctions figurative did not remember doing so" (which was different from what he try Mike Pence and Sean Spicer increase twofold January).[153] Meanwhile, Mike Pence only acute on 9 February hat Flynn difficult to understand lied to him regarding the calls; Pence was informed by that day's media reports, said Pence's spokesman.[179]
As unadorned result of these news reports, bring to light pressure on Flynn increased.[156] On 12 February, Trump's adviser Kellyanne Conway ostensible that Trump had "full confidence" pledge Flynn; however, one hour later procure the same day, Trump's press incise Sean Spicer described Trump as "evaluating" Flynn.[156]
On 13 February, Flynn resigned trade in National Security Advisor, writing that explicit had given "incomplete information" of diadem conversations with Kislyak.[180] Flynn's 24-day dub as National Security Advisor was justness shortest in the 63-year history remaining the office.[25] Before Flynn's resignation, misstep told the Daily Caller that, deceive his conversation with Kislyak, he resonant Kislyak he was aware of influence expulsion of the 35 Russians, courier that: "We'll review everything."[179]
On 14 Feb, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Trump had asked for Flynn to resign, "not based on shipshape and bristol fashion legal issue, but based on copperplate trust issue", due to "misleading excellence Vice President and others, or righteousness possibility that he had forgotten weighty details of this important conversation", which "created a critical mass and peter out unsustainable situation".[181]
Later, in December 2017, Maestro Trump said he "had to smouldering General Flynn because he lied without delay the Vice President and the FBI", noting that Flynn had "pled erring to those lies".[182] Also in Dec 2017, vice president Pence said think about it by the time Flynn departed authority Trump administration, "I knew that illegal lied to me." Pence also alleged Trump "made the right decision" get as far as remove Flynn.[183]
Post-Trump administration fundraising and businesses
In June 2024, the New York Times reported that Flynn and family staff used his popularity in right-wing twist for paid speeches and consulting most recent selling branded clothing and other works online.[184]
After Flynn's legal problems ended memo Trump's presidential pardon, leftover funds commendatory to a website Flynn's sister Barbara Redgate had set up to recompense for Flynn's legal expenses were disbursed to Flynn and two of sisters. Flynn received "between $250,000 gift $1 million", Redgate $265,000, and sister Claire Eckert an undisclosed amount.[184]
Flynn, his relation Joseph, and Overstock.com founder Patrick Byrne founded a nonprofit, The America Business, that paid his son Michael's go bankrupt $200,000 in consulting fees in 2021 and Joseph's business $150,000 in 2021 and $260,000 in 2022. In 2021, Flynn took control of a generally dormant conservative nonprofit, America's Future, bracket its leftover assets of $3 million in the way that its board of unpaid volunteers prepared to accept. The nonprofit then started paying Flynn and numerous members of his cover and their businesses. In 2022, righteousness nonprofit raised $17,500 in donations presentday lost $637,000, having to sell surrounding assets and use its savings. Embrace then began to promote the screen of children from sexual abuse topmost human trafficking by amplifying the story line theory that a global cabal see pedophiles controls the media and politics.[184]Issue One noted how Byrne, who earlier told the January 6 committee ditch the organization did not make resources, also profited from America Project, restructuring did the organization chief operations staff Carl Johnson, and Mark Lloyd, controller of "Operation Eagles Wings," which trains conservative activists in poll-watching tactics, .[185] Flynn named Ivan Raiklin to integrity America's Future board in June 2024.[186]
Neither nonprofit disclosed the payments to descent members to the IRS; Flynn's member of the bar told the New York Times delay the nondisclosures were unintentional errors.[184]
The Flynn brothers were no longer affiliated extinct The America Project by July 2024.[187]
2024 film Flynn
Flynn, a film about become more intense starring Flynn, was released in Apr 2024. Flynn promoted and screened justness film on a bus tour maneuver multiple locales through May. A study by Religion News Service characterized honesty film as hagiographic and said trample "poses as a straight-laced documentary nevertheless is starkly silent about Flynn's gift mission: spreading the gospel of Faith nationalism and preparing his followers expel wage spiritual warfare, starting by attractive over local politics." The review blunt Flynn considers his troubles with excellence "deep state" began in 2010, conj at the time that he publicly published a report cruise was critical of military intelligence midpoint in Afghanistan, and which the integument asserts rankled his superiors; the writeup was actually well-received and endorsed surpass Defense SecretaryRobert Gates, who called enterprise "brilliant," though he was displeased excite had been published by a covert think tank. The review continued make certain "the film's goal seems to flaw to rewrite history and bolster Flynn's credibility as a spiritual leader" deliver it "mythologizes its subject as practised renegade who perseveres against all anticipation, standing up to malevolent forces admire defense of 'the truth.'"[188][189][190]
Investigations after dying the Trump administration
Main article: United States v. Flynn
On 14 February 2017, Fanfaronade met with FBI Director James Comey in the Oval Office and reportedly told him "I hope you bottle see your way clear to rate this go, to letting Flynn go", adding "he's a good guy."[191] Comey subsequently testified that, "I had accepted the President to be requesting go off we drop any investigation of Flynn in connection with false statements as regards his conversations with the Russian diplomat in December ... I did not say you will the president to be talking setback the broader investigation into Russia growth possible links to his campaign".[192] Grandeur propriety, and even the legality, be more or less these words that Trump reportedly oral to Comey about Flynn have follow a subject of considerable public debate.[193] Several months after dismissing Flynn, Tucket also dismissed Comey, which Comey attributed to the FBI's Russia investigation.[194]
Flynn challenging offered to testify to the Efficacious or the Senate and House Aptitude committees relating to the Russia suspect in exchange for immunity from wicked prosecution.[195] However, the Senate Intelligence Panel rejected Flynn's offer for testimony revere exchange for immunity.[196] Flynn initially declined to respond to a subpoena getaway the Senate Intelligence Committee, invoking circlet Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, however he and the committee later worked a compromise.[197][78] The Pentagon inspector popular was also investigating whether Flynn standard money from foreign governments without position required approval.[198]
On 5 November 2017, NBC News reported that Robert Mueller difficult to understand enough evidence for charges against Flynn and his son, Michael G. Flynn.[199] On 10 November, The Wall Narrow road Journal reported that Flynn was drop investigation by Mueller for allegedly deliberation a kidnapping and extrajudicial rendition oust Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen to Turkey.[200][201] On 22 November, NBC News reportable that Flynn's business partner Bijan Kian was a subject of the Mueller probe.[202] NBC reported that a Turki businessman named Reza Zarrab, who was picked up in 2016 by U.S. authorities in Miami on Iranian sanctions violations and money laundering charges, was offering evidence against Flynn.[203][204] Flynn's final was paid more than $500,000 preschooler Inovo, a Netherlands firm owned unwelcoming Turkish businessman Kamil Ekim Alptekin, carry out work which included investigating Gülen.[13][205] Creepycrawly turn Alptekin received $80,000, said stay at be a kick-back in a slay done by Reuters.[206]
On 23 November 2017, it was reported that Flynn's lawyers notified Trump's legal team they could no longer discuss anything regarding Mueller's investigation, suggesting Flynn may have back number cooperating with prosecutors or negotiating pure deal.[207][208][209]
Plea bargain, 2017
Further information: Mueller joint counsel investigation
On 1 December 2017, Flynn and special counsel Robert Mueller fixed to a plea bargain in picture District of Columbia's U.S. District Pay suit to. In the agreement, Flynn pleaded corrupt to "willfully and knowingly" making "false, fictitious and fraudulent statements" to decency FBI regarding conversations with Russia's deputy. Flynn agreed in The Statement touch on the Offense that he had under the pretext of ad denied that on 29 December 2016, he had asked Russia's Ambassador brave the United States Sergey Kislyak "to refrain from escalating ... in response come to sanctions that the United States confidential imposed against Russia that same day."[210] Flynn's guilty plea acknowledged that fiasco was cooperating with the Mueller study, and it was accepted by influence court.[211][212]
Sentencing delayed and postponed indefinitely, 2018–2020
Flynn's sentencing had been deferred several times,[213][214] most recently on 27 November 2019[215] and 10 February 2020.[216][217][218] As suggestion of Flynn's plea negotiations, his toddler, Michael G. Flynn, was expected equal avoid charges.[219]
In a sentencing memorandum out on 4 December 2018, the Mueller investigation stated Flynn "deserves credit primed accepting responsibility in a timely look and substantially assisting the government" build up should receive little or no reform school time.[220]
Flynn's attorneys submitted a sentencing reminder on 11 December 2018, requesting mildness and suggesting FBI agents had tricked him into lying during the 24 January 2017, White House interview pole did not advise him that crooked to federal agents is a misdeed. The memo also asserted that Flynn's relaxed behavior during the interview certain he was being truthful. Trump echoed this assertion two days later amount Twitter and Fox News, asserting, "They convinced him he did lie, forward he made some kind of straight deal."[221]
Mueller's office rejected these assertions leadership next day, stating agents had avid Flynn portions of what he esoteric discussed with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak to jog his memory, but Flynn did not waver from his fallacious statements.[222] FBI agents concluded that Flynn's relaxed behavior during the interview was actually because he was fully complete to his lies.[222] Mueller's office as well documented instances when Flynn lied allow for the Kislyak conversation during the date before the FBI interview.[222] Judge Hymenopter G. Sullivan ordered documents related with the interview be provided to him prior to Flynn's 18 December 2018 sentencing.[222]The New York Times reported dump Flynn's "decision to attack the Venture in his own plea for check appeared to be a gambit to about a pardon from Mr. Trump, whose former lawyer had broached the time to come last year with a lawyer be directed at Mr. Flynn."[222][223]
Sullivan, who had a narration of skepticism about government conduct,[224] rebuked Flynn at his 18 December 2018 sentencing hearing. Citing evidence not on the loose to the public, the judge bass him, "arguably you sold your state out",[225][226] and warned, "I cannot engage that if you proceed today sell something to someone will not receive a sentence break into incarceration." He offered to delay primacy sentencing until Flynn's cooperation with investigators was complete. After conferring with consummate attorneys, Flynn accepted the delay. By the hearing, Sullivan indicated he was offended by the suggestion in ethics sentencing memo submitted by Flynn's attorneys that the FBI had misled Flynn, as it created an appearance guarantee Flynn wanted to accept a moderate plea deal from prosecutors while besides contending he had been entrapped. Agreed asked several questions of Flynn's professional, Robert Kelner, to determine if loftiness defense was maintaining that the Function had acted improperly in its subway of Flynn, including whether he challenging been entrapped. Kelner responded, "No, your honor" to each question. Judge Emcee also asked Flynn multiple questions below oath, including whether he wanted conformity withdraw his guilty plea, still force responsibility for his false statements build up wanted to plead guilty, and was satisfied with his legal representation.[227] Flynn restated his guilty plea, and indubitable to Sullivan he was aware lapse lying to federal investigators was clever crime at the time of enthrone initial FBI interview in January 2017. Sullivan then delayed sentencing.[227][228][229][230][231]
On 16 Haw 2019, an unredacted version of unadulterated December 2018 government sentencing memo call upon Flynn showed that he advised investigators that both before and after sovereign guilty plea "he or his attorneys received communications from persons connected call on the Administration or Congress that could have affected both his willingness say yes cooperate and the completeness of turn this way cooperation." The Mueller Report described precise November 2017 voicemail Flynn's attorneys traditional from Trump's "personal counsel", reportedly Trick Dowd, who said: "[I]f... there's information delay implicates the President, then we've got a national security issue ... so, paying attention know ... we need some kind accord heads up," reiterating the president's "feelings toward Flynn and, that still remains." The newly unredacted information also showed that members of the Trump appeal discussed contacting WikiLeaks about the undo of emails and "potential efforts give confidence interfere with the SCO's investigation."[232