It’s being reported now that Michael Flynn is pleading guilty to making false statements to the FBI over his communications with the Russian Ambassador:
BREAKING: Former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn is charged with making false statements to the FBI.
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 1, 2017
NBC’s Pete Williams says this is the least charge they could have brought against Flynn and signals he is cooperating with Mueller:
BREAKING: Michael Flynn charged with lying to the FBI, @savannahguthrie and @petewilliamsnbc report pic.twitter.com/t3Hqcbo7WS
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 1, 2017
Flynn to plead guilty to two instances of making false statements to the FBI - in December 2016 - about his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak. pic.twitter.com/CQVmvYHAhN
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) December 1, 2017
So while this isn’t Russian collusion, Ed Morrissey suggests it’s bad for the White House if Flynn is cooperating:
Flynn will admit he lied about his contact with Sergei Kislyak in December 2016. This looks like bad news for the White House if Flynn's cooperating. https://t.co/jIVnfwH56c
— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) December 1, 2017
There will be a plea hearing in a hour or so. We’ll bring you more on this if anything else big breaks on this story.
UPDATE:
Judge Napolitano is reporting on Fox News that this plea deal is significant. He said that Flynn could have served up to 60 years in prison based on what Mueller had on him. But this plea deal reduces that time from 60 years to between 6 and 12 months.