The settlement was made in response to a lawsuit brought by a retired general turned conspiracy theorist over a previous Justice Department prosecution of Flynn. Trump’s allies sought $50 million in damages.
Robert Mueller dies at age 81 after a distinguished life of public service
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller has died at the age of 81 after a distinguished career in law enforcement and military service.
The Justice Department will give an undisclosed amount of money to a top aide of President Donald Trump to settle a lawsuit the president filed against the government, according to court documents filed on March 25.
Michael Flynn, who served as national security adviser during Trump’s first term, plans to drop his lawsuit against the Justice Department after receiving a “settlement payment,” according to court documents from the Middle District of Florida. Flynn filed a lawsuit against the government in 2017, accusing him of lying to the FBI. The retired three-star general became known in right-wing conspiracy theory circles for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Mr. Flynn sought $50 million in damages from the government, according to court filings. He claimed he was “politically targeted” by the Justice Department, then under Robert Mueller, because he was close to Trump.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mr. Mueller as special counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice. In this capacity, Mr. Mueller oversaw the investigation into “any connections or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with President Donald Trump’s campaign, and any issues that directly arise or may arise from the investigation.”
Mr. Flynn’s lawyers and the Justice Department did not respond to requests for information about the amount of money Mr. Flynn would receive or the efforts of federal prosecutors to resolve the case.
Mr. Flynn’s case stems from an investigation into Russian interference.
The Justice Department’s first case against Flynn stems from the department’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Flynn’s successful career hit a snag when it was revealed that he had inappropriate meetings with the Russian ambassador. He later admitted to lying to the FBI in this case.
His legal recovery began in 2020, when Trump pardoned him for lying to the FBI. He filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice in 2023.
Flynn said in his lawsuit that he was “politically targeted” by the Justice Department for being a close ally of Trump.
As evidence, Flynn cited a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney who wrote in May 2020 that even if Flynn’s statements to the FBI were “false,” they were irrelevant.
presidential pardon
President Trump pardoned Flynn in late November following President Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
Flynn is one of several unlikely individuals President Trump has pardoned. But he wasn’t the only one trying to overturn the 2020 election results. The president also pardoned approximately 1,600 people charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
The former general’s efforts to overturn the election have led him to join efforts calling on President Trump to declare martial law and suspend the Constitution.
