The outgoing president, Donald Trump, granted a presidential pardon to his former National Security adviser, Michael Flynn, as announced by himself on the social network Twitter.
“It is my great honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a full presidential pardon. Congratulations to General Flynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now really have a fantastic Thanksgiving!” Trump tweeted.
Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general,
twice
pleaded
guilty to lying to the FBI
during the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election campaign, and specifically for denying that he had conversations with a Russian diplomat.
[Trump says he's considering pardoning Michael Flynn, former National Security adviser under investigation for his ties to Russia]
Michael Flynn did talk to the Russians
Dec. 3, 201701: 55
Flynn retracted his remarks and, claiming that he had been misled, claimed that he had never spoken with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak
to ask him for favors on behalf of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign
.
The Justice Department asked in May of this year that the court dismiss the criminal charges against Flynn.
Judge Emmet Sullivan of the Washington appeals court ordered the retired general's case closed in June, arguing he had no good reason to challenge the Justice Department's decision.
In doing so, Flynn has avoided receiving a conviction until now.
[Intelligence officials warn of Russian interference in the 2020 elections to favor Trump]
Flynn's tenure in the White House lasted only a few weeks after leaving office over a lie about his Russian contacts.
The Justice Department has argued that Flynn should never have been questioned by the FBI in January 2017.
In September, Flynn and the Justice Department returned to court for the first time in months to argue that his case should be shelved.
However,
Sullivan had previously made it clear that he might consider sentencing Flynn for his lies
.
At the last major hearing where Flynn appeared before Sullivan, in late 2018, the judge was so outraged at Flynn's legal approach that he questioned whether the former national security adviser could have been charged with treason.
Prosecutors said no.
With information from CNN.