Ex-Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Charged With Lying to FBI, Pleads Guilty

Flynn is the most senior member of the Trump administration to have been indicted by the special counsel so far.

Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser to the president, has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in regard to a meeting with a Russian ambassador a year ago and will cooperate with investigators, according to reports. 

Flynn, a retired United States Army lieutenant general who served for 33 years, was charged Friday morning. He entered his plea in federal court Friday morning. 

Inside the courtroom, he told the judge he has not been coerced to plead guilty or been promised a specific sentence, according to reports.

Following his plea, Flynn left the court with his head down and released a statement agreeing to cooperate with the special counsel and said he accepted full responsibility of his actions. 

"My guilty plea and agreement to cooperate with the Special Counsel's Office reflect a decision I made in the best interests of my family and of our country. I accept full responsibility for my actions," he said.

He added that his actions "were wrong, and, through my faith in God, I am working to set things right." 

The 58-year-old was forced to resign earlier this year after misleading White House officials about a meeting with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak in December 2016.

Flynn is now accused of "willfully and knowingly" making "false, fictitious and fraudulent statements” to the feds.

The charges against Flynn were brought on by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations that Russia may have had a hand in tampering with last year’s presidential election. 

Flynn is the most senior member of the Trump administration to have been indicted by the special counsel thus far. 

White House lawyer Ty Cobb told The Associated Press that Flynn’s guilty plea and pledge to cooperate with the Russia investigation does not implicate “anyone other than Mr. Flynn.”

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