President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he had granted a full pardon to his former national security adviser, who twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.
It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon. Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving!
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2020
The move was long expected after Trump said in March he was “strongly considering” pardoning Flynn, who initially cooperated with former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election before contending that he’d been railroaded by prosecutors who were unfairly targeting the president.
That narrative was seized upon by the White House as proof that Trump was the victim of a hoax investigation.
“If the top leaders of the FBI can target a three-star general with three decades of service, they can target you,” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said earlier this year.
Despite Flynns guilty pleas, the Justice Department moved back in May to dismiss the criminal charges, a move Democrats charged Attorney General William Barr was making to appease the president. The request was put on hold while the federal judge presiding over Flynns case reviewed the request.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was pardoning Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser who twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.
