Trump ex-security chief Flynn sold country out, says judge

A federal judge accused President Donald Trump's former national security chief Michael Flynn Tuesday of selling out the United States but agreed to delay his sentencing for lying over secret communications with Russian officials.

Judge Emmet Sullivan said Flynn had behaved in a "traitorous" manner while he was in the White House in early 2017 and threatened to impose a stiff prison sentence, rejecting a recommendation by prosecutors that the retired three-star general benefit from cooperating and receive no jail time.

But the judge gave Flynn the option to delay his sentencing, to better demonstrate why he merited a light punishment.

"I want to be frank with you, this crime is very serious," Sullivan said. "I'm not hiding my disgust, my disdain." "Arguably, you sold your country out," he added.

It was a sharp and unexpected rebuke to the highest-ranked Trump aide so far to face a judge in the Russian collusion investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Flynn, a lanky 60-year-old former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, showed no emotion as he answered the judge's questions as briefly as possible.

Trump has maintained that Flynn has fallen prey to a "witch hunt" by the FBI and allied Democrats to undermine his administration.

"The whole Russian Collusion thing was a HOAX, but who is going to restore the good name of so many people whose reputations have been destroyed?" Trump tweeted earlier Tuesday.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said following Tuesday's hearing that Flynn had been mistreated.

"The FBI broke standard protocol in the way they came in and ambushed General Flynn and in the way they questioned him," she said. Flynn has been a central focus of the Mueller probe. Two FBI agents arrived at the White house on January 24, 2017 -- four days after Trump was inaugurated -- to interview Flynn about his conversations the previous month with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak.

 

Trump ex-security chief Flynn sold country out, says judge

A federal judge accused President Donald Trumps former national security chief Michael Flynn Tuesday of selling out the United States but agreed to delay his sentencing for lying over secret communications with Russian officials. Judge Emmet Sullivan said Flynn had behaved in a traitorous manner while he was in the White House in early 2017 and threatened to impose a stiff prison sentence, rejecting a recommendation by prosecutors that the retired three-star general benefit from cooperating and receive no jail time. But the judge gave Flynn the option to delay his sentencing, to better demonstrate why he merited a light punishment. I want to be frank with you, this crime is very serious, Sullivan said. Im not hiding my disgust, my disdain. Arguably, you sold your country out, he added. It was a sharp and unexpected rebuke to the highest-ranked Trump aide so far to face a judge in the Russian collusion investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Flynn, a lanky 60-year-old former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, showed no emotion as he answered the judges questions as briefly as possible. Trump has maintained that Flynn has fallen prey to a witch hunt by the FBI and allied Democrats to undermine his administration. The whole Russian Collusion thing was a HOAX, but who is going to restore the good name of so many people whose reputations have been destroyed? Trump tweeted earlier Tuesday. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said following Tuesdays hearing that Flynn had been mistreated. The FBI broke standard protocol in the way they came in and ambushed General Flynn and in the way they questioned him, she said. Flynn has been a central focus of the Mueller probe. Two FBI agents arrived at the White house on January 24, 2017 -- four days after Trump was inaugurated -- to interview Flynn about his conversations the previous month with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak.