The legal team representing Michael Flynn, the former US National Security Adviser, will no longer share information on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference with legal representatives of Donald Trump.
The New York Times says the move is “an indication that Mr. Flynn is cooperating with prosecutors or negotiating a deal”, although “the notification alone does not prove that Flynn is cooperating with Mueller”.
It is not unusual for legal teams working for the defence to share information during large criminal investigations. However, it can “become unethical to continue such communication if one of the potential targets is looking to negotiate a deal with prosecutors,” The Guardian says.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Latest Videos FromThe Week
Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow said: “None of this means there’s any action or discussions adverse to the president’s interests,"
NBC News reported earlier this month that federal investigators had “gathered enough evidence to bring charges” against Flynn, and his son, over his lobbying work and possible money laundering.
Mueller is also “reportedly probing whether Flynn was a part of an alleged plot to essentially kidnap a Turkish Muslim cleric living in Pennsylvania and transport him to Turkey for $15 million”, reports CBS News.
Flynn and his family have been forced to set up a legal defence fund to help cover the costs that the federal investigations have generated.
