LEGAL/MICHAEL FLYNN/NATIONAL SECURITY/RUSSIA: “Mike Flynn, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, pleaded guilty Friday [12-1-17] morning to lying to the FBI about his communications with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. in December 2016, before Mr. Trump took office.
Mr. Flynn is the most senior Trump aide or associate to face criminal charges in a sprawling special counsel probe into potential links between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election…
The Wall Street Journal reported last month that special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigators were asking questions about Jared Kushner’s interactions with foreign leaders during the presidential transition, as well, including his involvement in the U. N. resolution, which condemned Israel’s construction of settlements in disputed territories. Mr. Kushner is Mr. Trump’s son-in-law and a top presidential adviser.
The fact that Mr. Flynn pleaded guilty only to one count of lying to the FBI, when he was known to face potential prosecution over offenses including failing to file as an agent of a foreign power in the U.S. and providing misleading information about his foreign financial interests, suggests that Mr. Flynn is willing to provide significant information to Mr. Mueller’s investigation, legal experts said…
Mr. Mueller’s team has also been investigating Mr. Flynn’s role in an alleged plot to kidnap a Turkish cleric from his home in Pennsylvania and return him to Turkey, where officials blame him for fomenting a failed coup, according to people familiar with the matter.
There was no mention of Mr. Flynn’s work with Turkey as an unregistered agent in the brief document filed with the court Friday.”
-Aruna Viswanatha and Shane Harris, “Mike Flynn Pleads Guilty to Lying About Russian Contacts,” The Wall Street Journal online, Dec. 1, 2017 12:02pm