Michael Flynn doesn't have a new job at a lobbying firm, after all

Grab a drink and have a seat, because you'll want to settle in for this odd story about former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

On Tuesday afternoon, The Wall Street Journal reported that Flynn and his son, Michael Flynn Jr., were joining Stonington Global LLC, a new lobbying and consulting firm. Many thought it was peculiar that the company would hire a man who pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators and is waiting to be sentenced, but one of Stonington Global's founders, Joey Allaham, told the Journal the elder Flynn "has experience all over the world. He can do a lot for us. We are very lucky to get a man like that."

While it is strange for a firm to hire a person who might have to use his vacation time to serve a prison sentence, the story was straightforward enough, until Flynn's attorneys came forward just a few hours later to say Flynn was not working with Stonington and the announcement was made because of a "misunderstanding." Flynn "has not joined Stonington and did not personally issue any public statement," attorneys Robert Kelner and Stephen Anthony said in a statement. "He was aware that a statement was being drafted, but he did not intend that it be issued at this time."

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After that statement was released, Allaham and his partner, Nick Muzin, told the Journal they started Stonington with Flynn — a man they did not know until Allaham approached him about joining the firm — and while they couldn't comment on his "considerations about the timing of the announcement, we have faith in his patriotism and long history of service to our country. We look forward to working together." Flynn was set to serve as director of global strategy, and based on these dueling statements, perhaps one day he still will? Read more at The Wall Street Journal, before Flynn rejoins the firm and quits again.