Judge dismisses Michael Flynn case after Trump pardon

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Michael Flynn pardon was 'appropriate': Former US attorney

Former U.S. Attorney Guy Lewis on President Trump pardoning former United States National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

Judge Emmet Sullivan dismissed the criminal case against former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn on Tuesday, putting an end to a case that took a number of turns after Flynn's initial guilty plea three years ago.

Trump pardoned Flynn in late November after Sullivan refused to automatically grant the Justice Department's motion to dismiss Flynn's case earlier this year.

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"The history of the Constitution, its structure, and the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the pardon power make clear that President Trump’s decision to pardon Mr. Flynn is a political decision, not a legal one," Sullivan said in his Tuesday order. "Because the law recognizes the President’s political power to pardon, the appropriate course is to dismiss this case as moot."

Flynn pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2017 to giving false statements to the FBI that included statements regarding his communications with a Russian ambassador. Those discussions covered topics including Russia's response to U.S. sanctions and a UN security council resolution regarding Israel. Flynn also admitted to filing paperwork under the Foreign Agents Registration Act that contained misrepresentations regarding business with Turkey. His sentencing was delayed due to his cooperation with prosecutors.

FILE - Michael Flynn, President Trump's former national security adviser, leaves federal court in Washington, Sept. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, file)

In 2019, Flynn began to claim innocence in the case, citing alleged FBI misconduct. FBI records were produced that called their interview into question, including handwritten notes that indicated an internal question as to whether the interview was meant to extract truth from Flynn or to get him to lie so authorities could pressure him with prosecution or termination. 

Flynn's attorneys later filed additional notes from former FBI official Peter Strzok. The lawyers said the notes indicated then-FBI Director James Comey appeared to downplay Flynn’s calls during the presidential transition with Russia's ambassador as “legit” during a meeting where then-President Barack Obama and then-Vice President Joe Biden also weighed in.

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The Department of Justice moved to dismiss the case, but Sullivan refused, instead appointing retired judge John Gleeson to argue against the DOJ. Gleeson claimed that the DOJ's motion was politically motivated to help an associate of President Trump, and therefore should not be granted.

An appellate court ordered Gleeson to dismiss the case, but that decision was later reversed.

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Sullivan had not yet issued a decision on the motion to dismiss, which he officially denied as moot on Tuesday, given the case being dismissed on account of the pardon.

Fox News' Bill Mears and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.