Michael Flynn sentencing: Judge tells ex-Trump national security adviser ‘you sold your country out’ in hearing that ends with delay
Judge tells Flynn 'you sold your country out' during contentious hearing that ends with delay
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A judge has fiercely criticised Michael Flynn, Donald Trump‘s short-lived national security advisor, as he postponed his sentencing for lying to the FBI over contact with Russian officials during the 2016 presidential election campaign.
US District Judge Emmet Sullivan said Flynn had "arguably" sold out his country by lying to federal investigators in 2017, adding, "All along, you were an unregistered agent of a foreign country while serving as the National Security Adviser to the President of the United States."
The sentencing was postponed pending a status report in March, despite Special Counsel Robert Mueller suggesting Flynn receive little to no jail time due to his cooperation in the federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
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Beyond President Trump, the reaction on Twitter to Michael Flynn's upcoming sentencing is divided sharply.
Some are praising him for his military service and wishing him "Gods protection and for all that is hidden in darkness to be exposed on the light" while others are sharing memes of Benedict Arnold, who likewise, "had a great military career with the Army before he switched sides and went to work for a foreign power".
↵ Elsewhere in the Russia investigation, studies carried out on behalf of the Senate Intelligence Committee suggests bots linked to Russia's Internet Research Agency strategically targeted black voters on social media during the 2016 campaign to suppress Democratic turnout at the polls.
Here's The Indy's Chris Riotta with more:
On Fox News, commentator and former New Jersey superior court judge Andrew Napolitano said he believes a grand jury subpoena for Mr Trump is now a real possibility.
“I think that Bob Mueller knows that he needs to lock the president in to a version of events before he takes the next step, whatever the next step is, whether it’s an indictment or referral,” he told host Shepherd Smith.
Here's Tom Embury-Dennis with more:
Aside from Robert Mueller, one of the biggest thorns in Donald Trump's side has been the recent satire boom at his expense.
The president has been particularly incensed by Alec Baldwin's impersonation of him on Saturday Night Live (SNL), most recently at the weekend when the show parodied Frank Capra's classic Christmas film It's a Wonderful Life (1946) to imagine a world without him.
This time last year, cast member Mikey Day was uncanny as Michael Flynn, presented as a Jacob Marley figure in a parody of A Christmas Carol.
Here's a history of SNL's treatment of US presidents since it began in 1975.
After using his social media platforms only this morning to bypass the evils of the "MSM" and wish Michael Flynn good luck in court, Donald Trump is now turning his ire on Facebook and Twitter.
Both, like SNL, are apparently "biased towards the Dems".
As we await Michael Flynn's sentencing, former FBI director James Comey - acrimoniously sacked by President Trump - has tackled the Republican Party for failing to shield the instruments of government from the whims of the Oval Office and for being in thrall to Fox News.
Andrew Buncombe has more:
The president's handling of Robert Mueller's investigation is apparently alienating his core support base, with 72 per cent believing Mr Trump has been dishonest over his administration's ties to Russia, according to a new poll from CNN.
Here's a full report from Chris Baynes:
Michael Flynn is expected to arrive in court at 11:00am local time, and could very well walk out a free man thanks to his reportedly extensive cooperation with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team of federal prosecutors.
Despite the president’s claims, Michael Flynn was adamant he had not been manipulated into submitting his plea of guilty voluntarily.
During his initial plea hearing, the judge asked the ex-national security adviser, “Are you entering this plea of guilty voluntarily and of your own free will?”
“I am,” Flynn replied.
“Are you entering this plea of guilty because you are guilty and for no other reason?” the court asked.
“Yes, Your Honor,” Flynn replied.
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