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Trump pardons ex-advisor Michael Flynn who lied to FBI about Russia meddling with US polls: ‘Traitor rewarded’

Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 for lying to the FBI about the interactions he had with Russia’s ambassador to the United States in the weeks leading up to Trump’s inauguration to office in January 2017

In a startling move, President Donald Trump has pardoned his former national security advisor, Michael Flynn, who had pleaded guilty for lying to the FBI amid the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election in the United States. Flynn is a retired army general who pleaded guilty in 2017 for lying to the FBI about the interactions he had with Russia’s ambassador to the United States in the weeks leading up to Trump’s inauguration to office in January 2017.

After pardoning Flynn, Trump wrote on Twitter on Wednesday, November 25, “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!” 

This is Trump’s highest-profile pardon since he assumed office. White House too came in support of Flynn. The official WH statement reads, “General Flynn should not require a pardon. He is an innocent man. Even the FBI agents who interviewed General Flynn did not think he was lying. Multiple investigations have produced evidence establishing that General Flynn was the victim of partisan government officials engaged in a coordinated attempt to subvert the election of 2016.” Supporting the pardon, the statement added: “While today’s action sets right an injustice against an innocent man and an American hero, it should also serve as a reminder to all of us that we must remain vigilant over those in whom we place our trust and confidence.”

However, the pardon is being seen as unjustified by many. “This pardon is undeserved, unprincipled, and one more stain on President Trump’s rapidly diminishing legacy,” said House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler in a statement. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi too wrote against the pardon calling it “abuse of power”. “President Trump’s pardoning of Michael Flynn, who twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his dealings with a foreign adversary, is an act of grave corruption and a brazen abuse of power. Trump is again using the pardon power to protect those who lie to cover up his wrongdoing, just as he did when he commuted the sentence of campaign advisor Roger Stone, who was convicted on seven felony counts.”

Flynn served as Trump’s first national security advisor as Trump assumed office in 2017. However, Flynn eventually resigned from his position 24 days into the new administration, amid disclosures that he had allegedly misled vice-president Mike Pence and others about conversations he had with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak regarding sanctions before Trump took to office.

Flynn also supported chants of “Lock her up,” for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016 at the Republican National Convention. Now as the POTUS has granted pardon to him, this has fumed many on the Internet while some have come out in support of Flynn.

Politician Adam Schiff wrote against the POTUS and Flynn, “Donald Trump has repeatedly abused the pardon power to reward friends and protect those who covered up for him. This time he pardons Michael Flynn, who lied to hide his dealings with the Russians. It’s no surprise that Trump would go out as he came in — Crooked to the end.”

A user wrote against Flynn, “Michael Flynn sold out his country. He did it for money and power. No pardon will ever erase his treachery. He betrayed every single American. Never let him forget it. " Another concurred, “In Trump’s crooked America, corrupt traitors like Flynn are rewarded for lying while patriots like Col. Alex Vindman are punished for telling the truth.”

Republican Lee Zeldin wrote in support of Flynn, “100% the right call to pardon General Michael Flynn. He shouldn’t have ever been targeted like this in the first place. One item remains...Crimes and other misconduct were committed against Gen Flynn along the way and that justice still remains absolutely necessary today.” Another concurred in Flynn’s favor, “Now General Flynn can enjoy his Thanksgiving in peace. A great patriot who has been through so much!”