What Happened to Michael Flynn?
Michael Flynn’s story is that of a spectacular rise and fall. Flynn was a retired three-star Army general and nationally-revered intelligence officer who briefly served as President Donald Trump’s national security advisor until he was forced to resign due to controversy in 2017. His story is a complex one, from his lifetime of military service to his controversial appointment and ultimate resignation from the White House.
Who is Michael Flynn?
Michael Flynn, born on December 24th 1958 in Middletown, Rhode Island, is a retired United States Army Lieutenant General and former national security advisor to President Donald Trump. Flynn served as the Assistant Director for National Intelligence for Partner Engagement from July 2012 to August 2014, and held the position of the 18th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) until August 2014.
Flynn’s Military Career
Flynn began his military career in 1981 as a Second Lieutenant in the Army, steadily rising up the ranks until he became a three-star general in the late 2000s. During his time in the Army, Flynn held several key positions. He served as the Assistant Chief of Staff at the 82nd Airborne Division, Commander of the 111th Military Intelligence Brigade, Director of Intelligence at the Joint Special Operations Command, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and later, Director of Intelligence at the International Security Assistance Force. Flynn was highly decorated for his service and received a number of awards and decorations, including two Defense Superior Service Medals, two Legion of Merit Awards, the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, and more.
Flynn’s Controversial Appointment as National Security Advisor
In November 2016, then President-elect Donald Trump nominated Michael Flynn for the position of National Security Advisor, a role which President Trump said Flynn was “devoted to strengthening America’s real-time visibility into emerging threats.” After securing the job, Flynn assumed the role of National Security Advisor in January 2017. However, Flynn’s appointment soon became controversial due to his questionable past contacts with foreign personnel, including Russian contacts.
The U.S. Department of Justice Investigation and Flynn’s Resignation
The controversy surrounding Flynn’s appointment increased when it was revealed that Flynn had failed to disclose payments he benefited from when giving a speech in Moscow in 2015 and contact he had with a Russian ambassador. This led to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice into violation of the Logan Act, which prohibits U.S. citizens from negotiating with foreign governments without permission from the government.
It was then revealed that Flynn had lied to the FBI about his contacts with Russia, and he was subsequently charged with making false statements to the FBI. Due to the controversy, Flynn resigned from his position of National Security Advisor in February 2017.
The Aftermath
Following his resignation, Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials and agreed to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. In December 2018, Flynn sought to withdraw his guilty plea and instead plead not guilty, citing “egregious misconduct” from the government in the handling of his case.
In May 2020, the Department of Justice dropped the charges against Flynn following the release of documents revealing information which the government felt incriminated Flynn. In June 2020, Flynn asked President Trump to pardon him, claiming he was wrongfully prosecuted in an attempt to hurt the Trump administration. As of September 2020, Flynn has yet to receive a pardon, and his future and legal status remain uncertain.
Michael Flynn’s story is one of a sudden and spectacular rise followed by an equally remarkable fall. Starting off as a highly decorated Army general, Flynn went on to become a nationally known security officer, only to be accused of acting without permission from the government and lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia. Although the charges against Flynn have been dropped, his future remains uncertain. Whatever the outcome of the case, Flynn’s story will remain one to remember in the history books.
