The Mueller delusion

Let's talk about what Michael Flynn's delayed fate really says about the special counsel's investigation

Robert Mueller and Michael Flynn.
(Image credit: Illustrated | REUTERS/Win McNamee-POOL, Mario Tama/Getty Images, bestdesigns/iStock)

It's December, and you know what that means. It's Mueller time!

Michael Flynn, the moderately distinguished ex-lieutenant general who served for all of 24 days as Trump's national security adviser and said some rude things on the campaign trail, narrowly avoided being sentenced to community service on Tuesday after pleading guilty to lying about a perfectly normal conversation with a Russian diplomat in late 2016. Judge Emmet Sullivan was in fine form, accusing Flynn of having "arguably" sold out his country, which is code for "getting caught in an obvious perjury trap." Flynn's sentencing will now be delayed until next year so he has more time to cooperate with Robert Mueller's special counsel probe into Russian election interference. So far his assistance has led to the indictment of two former business associates who are accused of having illegally lobbied for the extradition of a Muslim cleric on behalf of the Turkish government. Turkey and Russia share a sea border, folks.

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Matthew Walther

Matthew Walther is a national correspondent at The Week. His work has also appeared in First Things, The Spectator of London, The Catholic Herald, National Review, and other publications. He is currently writing a biography of the Rev. Montague Summers. He is also a Robert Novak Journalism Fellow.