DOJ Pays Flynn $1.2M to Settle Lawsuit Over Russia Investigation

The Justice Department has agreed to pay former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn approximately $1.2 million to settle his lawsuit claiming malicious prosecution. Flynn had sued for $50 million after being charged with lying to FBI agents about conversations with a Russian diplomat during the Russia investigation.

WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice has agreed to pay former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn approximately $1.2 million to resolve his lawsuit alleging wrongful prosecution, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.

While court documents submitted Wednesday don’t disclose the settlement figure, an individual familiar with the case confirmed to The Associated Press that the total reaches about $1.2 million. The source requested anonymity to discuss confidential information.

This agreement ends Flynn’s 2023 legal action where he demanded no less than $50 million, claiming the criminal charges against him constituted malicious prosecution. The settlement marks a dramatic shift for the Justice Department, which under the Biden administration had urged a judge to throw out Flynn’s complaint. Current Attorney General Pam Bondi, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney, has been an outspoken opponent of the Russia probe that led to Flynn’s charges. Over the past year, the FBI and Justice Department have removed officials who took part in Trump-related criminal investigations.

Department officials described the settlement as a crucial move toward correcting what they characterize as a “historic injustice” stemming from the Russia investigation that overshadowed much of Trump’s initial presidency.

“This Department of Justice will continue to pursue accountability at all levels for this wrongdoing. Such weaponization of the federal government must never be allowed to happen again,” a department representative stated.

This development represents another chapter in Flynn’s extensive legal battles. He was among six Trump associates prosecuted during special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into possible connections between Russia and Trump’s 2016 campaign.

In December 2017, Flynn admitted guilt to making false statements to FBI agents when he denied discussing with Russian diplomat Sergey Kislyak the sanctions imposed by the departing Obama administration on Russia for election meddling. Flynn had actually counseled Russia to remain “even-keeled” regarding the penalties and promised “we can have a better conversation” about bilateral relations once Trump took office.

This exchange concerned the FBI, which was then examining whether Trump’s campaign and Russia had worked together to influence the election. Additionally, White House representatives were publicly claiming that Flynn and Kislyak hadn’t discussed sanctions, which the FBI knew was false.

Flynn subsequently attempted to retract his guilty plea, claiming federal prosecutors had acted in “bad faith” and violated their agreement when they recommended imprisonment.

In 2020, the Justice Department moved to drop the case, arguing that the FBI lacked justification to question Flynn about Kislyak and that his statements weren’t relevant to the broader counterintelligence investigation. Officials also cited internal FBI documents showing agents had planned to close the investigation weeks before conducting the Flynn interview.

Trump eventually pardoned Flynn, bringing the court proceedings and legal disputes to an end.