ABC News reports this morning that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, after pleading guilty to a felony charge of lying to the FBI regarding contact with the Russian government before, during and after the 2016 election, is prepared to testify that he made these contacts on the orders of Donald Trump.
The stunning turn comes as Flynn, who is cooperating with investigators in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe, pleaded guilty to one count of lying to the FBI about his back-channel negotiations with the Russian ambassador – talks that occurred before Trump took office. The Special Counsel made the plea agreement public Friday morning.
Flynn faces up to five years in prison after his guilty plea in Federal Court this morning.
According to ABC, a close confidant said that Flynn felt abandoned by Trump in recent weeks, and told friends about the decision to make the plea deal within the last 24 hours as he grew increasingly concerned about crippling legal costs he would face if he continued to contest the charges.