Retired judge to present arguments against DOJ's move to dismiss Flynn case


U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan announced in an order on Wednesday that he is appointing a former federal judge to deliver arguments against the Justice Department's move to dismiss the case of Michael Flynn.
Flynn briefly served as President Trump's first national security adviser. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, but in January, Flynn and his new legal team attempted to reverse course, with Flynn claiming he was pressured into making the plea. Last week, the Justice Department moved to drop his case, citing "newly discovered and disclosed information."
When entering his plea, Flynn twice declared under oath that he was guilty of lying to the FBI. In his order, Sullivan wrote that retired Judge John Gleeson has been appointed to "present arguments in opposition to the government's motion to dismiss" and "address whether the court should issue an order to show cause why Mr. Flynn should not be held in criminal contempt for perjury."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Gleeson, appointed by former President Bill Clinton to the federal bench in New York, retired in 2016 to enter private practice, Politico reports. Earlier this week, Gleeson co-wrote a Washington Post op-ed saying there has been "nothing regular" about the Justice Department's effort to dismiss the Flynn case, adding, "the record reeks of improper political influence."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
5 weather-beaten cartoons about the Texas floods
Cartoons Artists take on funding cuts, politicizing tragedy, and more
-
What has the Dalai Lama achieved?
The Explainer Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader has just turned 90, and he has been clarifying his reincarnation plans
-
Europe's heatwave: the new front line of climate change
In the Spotlight How will the continent adapt to 'bearing the brunt of climate change'?
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read