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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Your support makes all the difference.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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The president has had quite a busy morning on Twitter.
To recap, Donald Trump has wished his ex-National Security Advisor Michael Flynn “good luck” during his sentencing, demanded the end of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and — this is not a joke — claimed social media platforms are purposefully slowing his following.
Supporters for Michael Flynn have showed up to the courthouse where Michael Flynn is expected to arrive for his sentencing hearing at 11:00am. Demonstrators are holding signs that read, "Stop the persecution of Gen Flynn - He is innocent."
It remains unclear whether the judge will heed the suggestion of the Special Counsel’s office and reduce the time of Michael Flynn’s sentencing, or deliver a tough sentence for the ex-National Security Adviser.
Flynn’s lawyers suggested he was not warned before lying to federal agents, which spurred a rare response from Robert Mueller’s office.
The Special Counsel wrote, “A sitting National Security Advisor, former head of an intelligence agency, retired Lieutenant General, and 33 year veteran of the armed forces knows he should not lie to federal agents."
Michael Flynn has entered the courthouse, walking quickly past reporters and media before entering another section of the floor. The courtroom is not yet open.
Flynn was surrounded by his team of attorneys and his family.
Michael Flynn’s former business associate Bijan Rafiekian has plead not guilty in a Turkish lobbying case. The Justice Department has charged Rafiekian, known as Bijan Kian, with acting as a foreign agent and conspiracy.
He was allegedly attempting to gain influence among American politicians while seeking the extradition of a Turkish cleric.
To recap, Mike flynn plead guilty on 1 December 2017 to making false statements to the FBI.
Here’s the FBI’s interview notes — albeit somewhat redacted — from that conversation.
Reporters have noted there are demonstrators both for and against Michael Flynn outside of the courthouse where he arrived earlier in the hour for a sentencing hearing.
Here he is pictured leaving his vehicle before entering the courthouse today.
Here are the indictment documents for Michael Flynn’s former business associates Bijan Kian, whose real name is Bikan Rafiekian, and Kamil Alptekin. Both are charged with conspiracy and other charges in their alleged attempts to seek extradition for Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has defended Donald Trump and his former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn in an interview with Fox News ahead of his hearing, saying Flynn “was certainly ambushed.” The press secretary was echoing claims from the far-right that Flynn had been manipulated into lying to the FBI — a position that has been rebuked by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Ms Sanders also alleged the federal agency showed a “clear political bias” against the president, despite the Justice Department’s internal watchdog office finding no evidence of such claims in its internal report.
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