Mike Flynn’s lawyer meets Mueller’s top prosecutors

On Monday, Michael Flynn’s lawyer met with members of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team amid speculation that President Trump’s former national security adviser is etching out a deal. 

ABC News first reported the meeting between Flynn’s attorney Robert Kelner and Mueller’s team, suggesting that it indicated both sides were discussing a possible plea deal.

Last week, Trump’s legal team confirmed that Kelner had alerted them that they could no longer team up on legal strategy, a sign that Flynn wanted to negotiate with prosecutors instead. 

 

Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn’s attorney met with members of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team on Monday, ABC News has learned 

Michael Flynn's lawyer was spotted at the offices of Special Counsel Robert Mueller (pictured) on Monday 

Michael Flynn’s lawyer was spotted at the offices of Special Counsel Robert Mueller (pictured) on Monday 

The New York Times first reported the news. 

While Trump and Flynn’s team had never signed a formal, joint defense agreement, ABC News reported that lawyers for both men had held privileged discussions for months. 

With that break it could mean that Flynn, who played an adviser role to Trump throughout the campaign and into the transition and administration, might testify against the president or another senior White House official.

When ABC News reached out to Kelner, he declined to comment on the nature of his visit to Mueller’s Washington, D.C., office.  

Meanwhile, Trump’s lawyer Jay Sekulow told the network that the break between the two legal teams was ‘not entirely unexpected.’  

‘No one should draw the conclusion that this means anything about Gen. Flynn cooperating against the president,’ Sekulow told ABC. 

However sources close to the Russia probe, which Mueller oversees, have told ABC that Flynn is feeling increased pressure to cooperate because investigators could try to ensnare his son, Michael Flynn Jr., who worked alongside him at Flynn Intel Group. 

Congress is also looking into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and if there’s evidence of Trump campaign collusion, with Democrats saying in September that Flynn failed to disclose a number of foreign trips and contacts when renewing his security clearance.

Intentionally omitting foreign contacts on a security clearance from can be punished by a five-year stint in prison.   

Jail time could be used as leverage against Flynn, getting him to turn. 

Former FBI Director James Comey – whose firing prompted the hiring of the special counsel – previewed how prosecutors could play this situation, when testifying before Congress earlier this year, ABC pointed out. 

‘There is always a possibility if you have a criminal case against someone and you bring them in, squeeze them, flip them, [that]they give you information about something else,’ Comey said.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk