Reports indicate the US Department of Justice is in talks to settle with former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
According to court filings cited by Bloomberg on Friday, Michael Flynn, who served as national security adviser to US President Donald Trump, is demanding $50 million from the federal government. The outlet noted that his claim stems from a prosecution he characterizes as politically motivated, tied to efforts to contest the 2020 election outcome.
Legal actions initiated against Trump’s campaign staff formed part of a wider effort to address challenges to the election results, encompassing investigations related to the January 6 Capitol assault. Trump and his associates frequently alleged widespread fraud following his defeat to Joe Biden.
The Department of Justice is reportedly engaged in settlement negotiations regarding Flynn’s claim, marking a departure from the prior administration’s strategy, under which government attorneys contested the case.
In addition to Flynn’s lawsuit, the agency is reportedly attempting to reach a settlement in a case filed by Stefan Passantino, a former senior White House lawyer. Passantino alleges that a government probe into the 2020 election and January 6 damaged his standing due to the unauthorized release of private information.
Bloomberg observed that court documents do not indicate any specific financial compensation requests have been publicly revealed in Passantino’s litigation.
Both Flynn and Passantino initiated their lawsuits in 2023. Last year, Flynn was unsuccessful in the initial phase of his civil damages claim, while the US attorney’s office in Atlanta continued to uphold a judge’s decision to dismiss Passantino’s case until June.
Flynn had initially admitted guilt to making false statements, conceding that he misrepresented his communications with a Russian official. Subsequently, he retracted his plea and disputed the charges. Trump granted him a pardon in late 2020, which concluded the legal proceedings.
Widespread legal actions targeting Trump’s team have impacted many associates, encompassing individuals implicated in post-election civil disturbances and demonstrations at Capitol Hill. A significant number of these individuals received pardons, either recently or towards the conclusion of Trump’s initial term.