x
Breaking News
More () »

Appeals court keeps Flynn case alive, won't order dismissal

The decision keeps the case against Michael Flynn at least temporarily alive.
Credit: AP
FILE - In this Sept. 10, 2019 file photo, Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, leaves the federal court following a status conference in Washington.

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — A federal appeals court won't order the dismissal of the Michael Flynn prosecution, permitting a judge to scrutinize the Justice Department's request to dismiss its case against the former Trump administration national security adviser.

The decision Monday keeps the matter at least temporarily alive and rejects efforts by both Flynn's lawyers and the Justice Department to force the prosecution to be dropped without any further hearings from the judge.

Federal prosecutors moved in May to dismiss the prosecution even though Flynn himself had pleaded guilty and admitted lying to the FBI during the Russia investigation about his contacts with a Moscow diplomat. After a judge refused to immediately dismiss the case, his lawyers asked a federal appeals court to step in and force him to do so.

At issue before the court was whether U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan could be forced to grant the Justice Department's request without even holding a hearing to scrutinize the basis for the request.

“We have no trouble answering that question in the negative,” the court wrote in an unsigned opinion.

RELATED: Ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon pleads not guilty to fraud in 'We Build the Wall' campaign

RELATED: Ex-FBI lawyer to plead guilty in Durham look at Russia probe

RELATED: Ex-judge says push to dismiss Flynn case is 'abuse of power'

Flynn was the only person charged in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation who had been a White House official. Mueller's probe investigated ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia.

Before You Leave, Check This Out