Mike Flynn not intend to join Qatar lobby firm: lawyer

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Mike Flynn, President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, denied himself joining a consulting firm founded by two registered lobbyists for Qatar after a Wall Street Journal story said Flynn planned to head the firm's global strategy.

"The lobbyists, Nicolas Muzin and Joey Allaham, had given a statement to the Journal about the new firm, Stonington Global LLC, that included a comment attributed to Flynn saying he was excited to join it as director of global strategy. Muzin provided a copy of the statement to media.

Flynn's attorney, Robert Kelner, emailed media saying that while Flynn was aware a statement was being drafted he did not intend for it to be released "at this time." He said its issuance appeared to be the result of a misunderstanding.

Muzin said he and Allaham could not comment on Flynn's "considerations about the timing of the announcement" but looked forward to working with him. The odd twist appeared a few hours after Flynn's hearing on Tuesday.

Former national security adviser Mike Flynn enters US District Court as he arrives for a status hearing related to his guilty plea on charges that he made false statements in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation in Washington, US, July 10, 2018. /VCG Photo

Flynn, a former Army lieutenant general, appeared in court for the first time since he pleaded guilty in December to lying to FBI agents about his discussions with Russia's ambassador to the United States regarding US sanctions and a UN resolution related to Israel.

Flynn was forced out as national security adviser after only 24 days in the job. "General Flynn is eager to proceed to sentencing," Kelner told US District Judge Emmet Sullivan, who is overseeing the case in federal court in Washington, DC.

Kelner said his client is continuing to cooperate with US Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of any links between Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.

US President Donald Trump (L-R), joined by Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, Vice President Mike Pence, senior adviser Steve Bannon, Communications Director Sean Spicer and National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, speaks by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, US, January 28, 2017. /VCG Photo

The attorney agreed with the judge's suggestion that a sentencing hearing could be held within 60 days of the conclusion of Flynn's cooperation with Mueller, rather than the usual 90 days, as a way to expedite an end to his case.

Kelner said he did not expect material changes to the facts of the case going forward, an indication that evidence turned over by Mueller has not prompted a rethink of Flynn's plea agreement.

Sullivan had ordered all evidence, including that gathered prior to Flynn's plea and anything potentially favorable to Flynn, be provided to the defense.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters