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Judge Puts Hold on Move to Drop Flynn Case

VOA News

   There is another stunning development in the case ofPresidentDonald
   Trump's formerNationalSecurityAdviserMichael Flynn.

   Thefederaljudgeoverseeingthecase has put theJusticeDepartment'smove
   todrop the criminal charges againstFlynnon hold to give outside legal
   experts a chance toargue against the department'sdecision.

   Judge Emmet Sullivan said late Tuesdaythat"friends of the court"will be
   able to file briefs and that he willset up a time to hear
   thosearguments"at the appropriate time."

   Sullivan could decide to call witnesses to testify and
   answerquestionsabout the Justice Department'sextraordinarymove last
   week to drop the charges against Flynn, andpossiblyreopen the entire
   case months before apresidentialelection.

   Flynnpleadedguilty to charges of lying totheFBI about his talks with
   the Russian ambassador to the U.S. about easing U.S.sanctionsduring the
   transition period between the ObamaandTrumpadministrations--a crime
   that carriesamaximumfive-year prison sentence.

   The charges against Flynn were part ofSpecialCounselRobert Mueller's
   investigation into Russianmeddlingin the 2016 presidential election.

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