Michael Flynn asks for delay in sentencing

Michael FlynnPresident Trump's first national security advisor has asked for a delay in sentencing for lying to the FBI, according to court documents released late Tuesday. the special council office Flynn said his work with the government was "finished".

Flynn's lawyers are demanding a delay in sentencing after the trial of his Turkish associates scheduled for July. Flynn plans to cooperate with this trial, which will take place in the Eastern District of Virginia. The government stated that it had taken "no position" in Flynn's application.

Flynn, a former lieutenant general of the army, pleaded guilty in December 2017 lie to federal investigators about his contacts with Russian officials. Office of the Special Advocate Robert Mueller published a memo a year later, asking him not to serve a prison sentence because he had provided "substantial assistance" to his investigation.

Flynn falsely stated that he had not spoken of sanctions with the Russian Ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, prior to the inauguration of Mr. Trump. In fact, Flynn called Kislyak five times at the end of December 2016 and both discussed sanctions that the Obama administration had imposed on Russia. The day after Flynn resigned, according to the FBI director at the time, James Comey, Mr Trump then encouraged Comey to abandon the investigation.

Flynn was originally scheduled to be sentenced in December 2018, but a judge allowed time for Flynn to cooperate more with the government. Judge Emmet Sullivan said it would take into account Flynn's 33 years of military service in sentencing, but described his crime as "very serious."

"You can argue that you sold your country, and the court is going to look at all this," Sullivan told Flynn in December. "But I do not hide my disgust, my disdain for this criminal offense."