Michael Flynn is now cooperating with Mueller — and could fuel the obstruction case against Trump

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI about his conversations with the former Russian ambassador.
Flynn confirmed in a statement that he is now cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.
His testimony could shed light on why Trump wanted former FBI director James Comey to drop the bureau's probe into Flynn's conversations with Kislyak and lobbying work on behalf of foreign entities.

Cornell Law professor Jens David Ohlin, who specializes in criminal law, said that "the fact that Flynn was charged with, and is pleading guilty to, such a minor crime, suggests a bombshell of a deal with prosecutors."

"Flynn was facing serious criminal liability for a variety of alleged missteps, including his failure to register as an agent of a foreign power," Ohlin said, referring to Flynn's lobbying work for Turkish government interests throughout the latter half of 2016.

"If this is the entirety of the plea deal, the best explanation for why Mueller would agree to it is that Flynn has something very valuable to offer in exchange: damaging testimony on someone else," Ohlin added.

"What was it about Michael Flynn that everyone in the Trump orbit wanted desperately to have him in the administration?" CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin wondered aloud earlier this year. "Why did they keep him?"

went a step further

On January 27, one day after Yates' expressed her concerns about Flynn to White House counsel Don McGahn, Trump invited Comey, then the FBI director, to dinner and asked for his loyalty — twice.

Yates was fired on January 30 when she refused to defend the administration's travel ban.

Trump asked for Flynn's resignation on February 13, shortly after The Washington Post reported that Flynn had spoken to Kislyak about sanctions. One day later,

White House officialsquickly deniedthat the reported conversation among Kushner, Ivanka Trump, and Flynn about the national security adviser position ever took place, calling it "complete and total nonsense."

But Kushner and Flynn were in touch throughout December on issues related to Russia and the incoming administration's foreign policy objectives more broadly.

Kushner and Flynn met with Kislyak on December 1 at Trump Tower. Following a bombshell Washington Post report, Kushner acknowledged that he had asked the Russian ambassador whether a direct line of communication could be set up between the transition team and Moscow. But he disputed its characterization as a "backchannel" and said it was meant to discuss fighting ISIS with Russia in Syria.

About three weeks later, Kushner asked Flynn to call Kislyak again, this time to persuade Russia to veto a UN resolution that would condemn Israel's settlements in disputed Palestinian territory. Kislyak rebuffed Flynn's request, and Russia did not intervene.

KT McFarland: A curious hill to die on

One week later, however, Trump transition official KT McFarland reportedly advised Flynn to ask the Russians not to retaliate against the sanctions imposed by Obama on December 28.

It is unclear whether McFarland consulted with Trump, then president-elect, before asking Flynn to discuss the sanctions with Kislyak.

The White House protected McFarland, who served as Flynn's deputy on the National Security Council, even when doing so didn't make much sense.

Flynn was eventually replaced by

Michael Flynn is now cooperating with Mueller — and could fuel the obstruction case against Trump

KT McFarland: A curious hill to die on

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