Special counsel Robert Mueller, who is tasked with investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, is notoriously tight-lipped about his findings. Over the past 18 months, scheduled court filings are the rare instances when Mueller’s probe can be relied upon to make news.
On Tuesday, Mueller was due to update the court on the status of Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser who has been cooperating with the Russia investigation since pleading guilty to lying to the FBI last year.
Mueller’s latest update finally arrived on Tuesday night and there is plenty in it that will ramp up speculation about the special counsel’s work even further, including Flynn’s substantial cooperation with “several ongoing investigations.”
According to Tuesday’s filing, Flynn has participated in 19 interviews. Though Flynn’s charges could result in five years in prison, he has apparently been so helpful that Mueller is recommending as little as no prison time.
Mueller's team describes a "series of false statements" from Flynn but recommends a sentence that doens't include incarceration because of his substantial assistance.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) December 5, 2018
The filing also notes Flynn has assisted the special counsel “with several ongoing investigations, including its probe of coordination between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.”
Mueller filing says that Michael Flynn has "assisted with several ongoing investigations," including a criminal investigation. The subject of that criminal investigation has been redacted.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 5, 2018
Matthew Miller, a former official in President Barack Obama’s Justice Department, reacted by wondering what else Flynn could have assisted Mueller with aside from the Russia probe.
So what are the two investigations beyond the Russia probe? https://t.co/eDy2p0UVjS
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) December 5, 2018
As if all of that isn’t tantalizing enough for followers of the 18-month investigation, then the redactions — which appear to reference the mysterious other investigations that Flynn has assisted — began.
Among the matters on which Flynn has provided assistance to the government is a criminal investigation – apparently separate from the collusion probe – that remains totally secret here. pic.twitter.com/FRnNCWXTHD
— Brad Heath (@bradheath) December 5, 2018
Flynn also provided information to Mueller about a second matter that's still secret, this one seemingly under the umbrella of the investigation into links between the Trump campaign and Russia. pic.twitter.com/Tbn6yaMozT
— Brad Heath (@bradheath) December 5, 2018
Looks like Flynn aided three investigations: REDACTED criminal investigation, the Mueller probe and REDACTED. Even the subject header of the third is redacted in the full document. pic.twitter.com/nvCJKZAFGr
— Philip Bump (@pbump) December 5, 2018
Trump is clearly feeling increasing pressure over Mueller’s investigation, which has racked up over 100 criminal charges against dozens of people, including guilty pleas from Trump’s former national security adviser, former campaign chair, former attorney, and multiple former campaign advisers.
Prior to Tuesday’s filing, the latest developments in Mueller’s investigation involve last week’s guilty plea by Michael Cohen — Trump’s former attorney — and his revelations that the president and his family pursued a Trump Tower real estate deal in Russia through the summer of the 2016 presidential race.
Donald Trump Jr., the president’s oldest son who likely lied to Congress per Cohen’s latest plea deal, has reportedly been telling friends he is very worried about being indicted.
