Trump DOJ settles $50M lawsuit with ex-national security aide who admitted lying to FBI

The Justice Department has reportedly reached a settlement with Michael Flynn, the retired three-star general and former Trump national security adviser who sued the department for $50 million over what he called a politically motivated prosecution.

Flynn filed the suit in 2023, alleging the government "improperly and politically" targeted him because of his ties to President Trump's 2016 campaign. He admitted in 2017 to lying to FBI investigators about his contacts with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, and made a second admission of false statements in 2018 as part of his cooperation with special counsel Robert Mueller. However, he tried to withdraw his plea in 2020 and accused prosecutors of "bad faith and vindictiveness."

The DOJ moved to drop the case against Flynn in May 2020, arguing further prosecution "would not serve the interests of justice." kicking off a fierce legal battle. Trump ultimately pardoned Flynn in the final weeks of his first term.

The terms of the settlement were not disclosed in a brief court notice, which indicated only that both sides would cover their own legal fees and that unspecified "settlement funds" would be paid.

Flynn served less than a month as Trump's national security adviser before being fired in February 2017 for lying to Vice President Mike Pence about the Kislyak contacts. He later became a central figure in Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election, attending at least one Oval Office meeting where allies urged Trump to take drastic steps to remain in power.