A federal judge has once again postponed the sentencing date for retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn after the former National Security Advisor moved last month to withdraw his guilty plea for lying to the FBI.
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan on Monday indefinitely postponed Flynn’s scheduled Feb. 27 hearing to allow federal prosecutors more time to seek information from the defendant’s former legal team–which Flynn’s current legal team has accused of betraying their client’s trust and failing to provide adequate legal assistance.
“[T]he parties shall meet and confer concerning the government’s motion for an Order from this Court confirming the waiver of the attorney-client privilege with respect to Mr. Flynn’s ineffective assistance of counsel claims against the law firm of Covington & Burling LLP and authorizing the disclosure of information to government counsel,” Sullivan’s order stated.
Sullivan also ordered both sides to discuss the specific details concerning Flynn’s waiver of attorney-client privilege and reach an agreement concerning what information his previous attorneys can share with federal prosecutors:
It is FURTHER ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint proposed order setting forth the terms of the waiver of the attorney-client privilege and the authorization of disclosure of information with respect to Mr. Flynn’s ineffective assistance of counsel claims by no later than 12:00 PM on Feb. 24.
Judge Sullivan set deadlines for additional filings to be submitted to the court in March and said the court may hold a hearing regarding Flynn’s request to withdraw his guilty plea; it could include in-person testimony from Flynn and his former legal team from Covington & Burling.
If Flynn’s request to withdraw his guilty plea is denied, he faces a maximum of five years in prison, though the government has already told the court that the Justice Department is fine with a probationary sentence being handed down.
Several legal experts have also opined that Flynn’s plea withdrawal request is actually a not-so-well disguised plea for a pardon from President Donald Trump.
[image via Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images]