The Justice Department will pay Michael Flynn roughly $1.2 million to settle his lawsuit alleging wrongful prosecution. Flynn, a former national security advisor, claimed he was politically targeted during the first Trump administration. He initially sought $50 million in damages when he filed the suit in 2023.
Flynn sued the Justice Department in 2023, asserting that the government "improperly and politically" targeted him due to his association with President Trump's 2016 campaign and White House position. He had been charged in November 2017 with making false statements to FBI investigators during a January 2017 interview.
Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents during the Russia probe conducted by former special counsel Robert Mueller. However, Flynn later sought to withdraw his guilty plea in January 2020, accusing the government of "bad faith, vindictiveness, and breach of the plea agreement." President Trump pardoned Flynn in 2020.
A Justice Department spokesperson stated that the settlement is "an important step in redressing that historic injustice" and those who instigated the Russia Collusion Hoax and Crossfire Hurricane abused their power. The Trump Justice Department, under former Attorney General William Barr, had moved to drop the case in 2020.
The settlement terms indicate both sides will pay for their own legal fees and that there will be a payment of "settlement funds."
Since his ouster during the first Trump administration, Flynn has retained close connections with Trump's inner circle. According to information gathered by the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, Flynn was among a number of advisers who urged Trump to seize voting machines after the 2020 election.
The Justice Department will pay Michael Flynn roughly $1.2 million to settle his lawsuit alleging wrongful prosecution. Flynn, a former national security advisor, claimed he was politically targeted during the first Trump administration. He initially sought $50 million in damages when he filed the suit in 2023.
Flynn sued the Justice Department in 2023, asserting that the government "improperly and politically" targeted him due to his association with President Trump's 2016 campaign and White House position. He had been charged in November 2017 with making false statements to FBI investigators during a January 2017 interview.
Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents during the Russia probe conducted by former special counsel Robert Mueller. He admitted guilt in December 2017 and again in December 2018 regarding contacts with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. However, Flynn later sought to withdraw his guilty plea in January 2020, accusing the government of "bad faith, vindictiveness, and breach of the plea agreement." President Trump pardoned Flynn in 2020.
A Justice Department spokesperson stated that the settlement is "an important step in redressing that historic injustice" and those who instigated the Russia Collusion Hoax and Crossfire Hurricane abused their power. The Trump Justice Department, under former Attorney General William Barr, had moved to drop the case in 2020.
The settlement is well below the $50 million Flynn initially sought, but will likely fuel questions as to whether Flynn received a favorable outcome due to his continued vocal support for President Trump. The settlement terms indicate both sides will pay for their own legal fees and that there will be a payment of "settlement funds."
Since his ouster during the first Trump administration, Flynn has retained close connections with Trump's inner circle. According to information gathered by the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, Flynn was among a number of advisers who urged Trump to seize voting machines after the 2020 election.
While the settlement concludes this legal battle, the Justice Department is also addressing other legal issues, including a "regrettable error" in an immigration lawsuit, where they blamed Immigration and Customs Enforcement for relying on incorrect information regarding migrant arrest tactics.
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The sources also report that Flynn lied to FBI agents about his contacts with the then-Russian ambassador during a January 2017 White House interview.