Prosecutors, defense ask to suspend Flynn sentencing until after report on Russia probe origins

U.S. prosecutors and the defense team for Michael Flynn have asked a federal judge to suspend Flynn’s sentencing until after the internal Justice Department watchdog report on the Russia probe is released.

President Trump’s former national security adviser is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 18, but prosecutors had a deadline of Monday to recommend whether they want to go for prison time instead of probation, as originally decided, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.

A joint filing from both sides indicated that the report due Dec. 9 from Inspector General Michael Horowitz “will examine several topics related” to the defense’s argument that the prosecutors participated in alleged misconduct by holding back evidence showing Flynn was tricked into lying to the FBI, the Post reported documents said. 

“Both parties share the Court’s goal to move this case along expeditiously,” the filing said, according to the Post. “The parties nonetheless believe that their sentencing submissions will be incomplete if they are filed prior to the Court’s issuance of its ruling.” 

U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan of Washington did not immediately reply to the submitted request, and both sides are prohibited from discussing the case, according to the Post.

Flynn pleaded guilty two years ago to lying about his contacts with the former Russian ambassador. He became the highest-ranking official charged in former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and the Trump campaign’s connections to Russia.

Citing his cooperation, Mueller has recommended that Flynn receive no prison time.