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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Michael Flynn has made his way into the courtroom as the sentencing hearing is set to begin at any moment.
Members of the Special Counsel’s office are now filing their way into the courtroom shortly after ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn arrived for his sentencing hearing.
The judge presiding over the case has told attorneys to “stand up and wave your hands” if and when Michael Flyyn were to say anything that is under seal.
The sentencing hearing was called to order at 11:13am, media has reported.
Michael Flynn has denied an offer from Judge Emmet Sullivan to postpone the hearing, allowing his sentencing to resume today as scheduled.
The judge presiding over the case said that circumstances under which Flynn had conducted an interview with the FBI “concerned the court” and said those concerns could raise “issues that may call into question his guilty plea.”
Flynn appears to continue asserting he does not wish to change his plea.
Michael Flynn said “I was aware” lying to the FBI was a crime and has said he does not wish to change his guilty plea.
The judge appears to be making it crystal clear that Michael Flynn has plead guilty because he is actually guilty, and not because he was coerced by any person or entity.
Flynn has repeated his understanding of the plea he filed and remains adamant he was not coerced.
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