Rejecting assertions that former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was wrongly pressured by the FBI into pleading guilty to charges of making false statements to investigators, a federal judge on Monday set Flynn's sentencing next month, ruling that Flynn was not entrapped by the feds.
"The sworn statements of Mr. Flynn and his former counsel belie his new claims of innocence and his new assertions that he was pressured into pleading guilty to making materially false statements to the FBI," Judge Emmet Sullivan wrote.
In a 92 page opinion released on Monday, Judge Sullivan took apart the claims of Flynn and his new lawyers, who argued that FBI misconduct had been the root cause for Flynn's lies to investigators about meetings with the Russian Ambassador after President Trump's 2016 election victory.
"Finally, the Court summarily disposes of Mr. Flynn’s arguments that the FBI conducted an ambush interview for the purpose of trapping him into making false statements and that the government pressured him to enter a guilty plea," Sullivan wrote. "The record proves otherwise."
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Judge Sullivan set Flynn's sentencing for January 28, 2020.
Supporters of Flynn have long pointed to statements in the interview summary made afterwards by agents - known as a 302 form - in which it was said Flynn did not seem to be lying.
But the Judge said a review of the evidence shows Flynn did lie - repeatedly.
"The Court therefore finds that the notes, draft FD-302s, and final FD-302 provide ample support that Mr. Flynn made false statements to the FBI about his communications with the Russian Ambassador," Sullivan ruled.
The Judge also rebuked Flynn's lawyers.
Flynn's lawyers had also asked to review other evidence - such as text messages between former FBI officials Lisa Page and Peter Strzok - but the judge said there was no reason to believe those items would have changed Flynn's legal jeopardy.
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