Former Trump adviser Michael Flynn pleads guilty to lying to FBI

World Today

Former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn arrives at federal court in Washington, Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. Flynn is to plead guilty Friday to making false statements to the FBI, the first plea by any of the four former Trump advisers charged so far in a wide-ranging investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser under U.S. President Donald Trump, has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about past contact with Russian officials. The investigation into Moscow’s alleged interference into last year’s presidential election is now zeroing in on Trump’s inner circle.

CGTN’s Roee Ruttenberg reports.

Last year at the Republican National Convention, Michael Flynn took to the stage and rallied Trump supporters against presidential rival Hillary Clinton.

“We do not need a reckless President who believes SHE is above the law,” Flynn said.

When the crowd began chants of “lock her up,” Flynn joined in.

This Friday in Washington, crowds at a federal courthouse offered their own version of the chant after the retired Army Lieutenant General admitted he lied to the FBI.

Flynn is the first official from the Trump administration to plead guilty to a criminal charge. The president’s former campaign chairman and two other campaign aides have been charged with felonies, but pleaded not guilty.

Trump’s former national security adviser only served for just 24 days, resigning after it was revealed he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other White House officials about his conversations with the then Russian ambassador. The conversations took place after the election, but before Trump was inaugurated president.

Investigators said Flynn told them a “Senior Member” of the Trump transition team instructed him to speak with Russian officials.

For his part, Flynn issued a statement denouncing what he called months of false accusations of treason. He said he is now trying to right his wrongs, and will cooperate with federal investigators looking into allegations of Russian interference in the presidential election, as well as possible collusion by members of the Trump team.


Eleanor Clift discusses Michael Flynn’s admission of lying to the FBI