Former Trump advisor Flynn charged with ‘willfully and knowingly’ making false statements to FBI

Special counsel Robert Mueller charged former Trump national security advisor Michael Flynn with “willfully and knowingly” making “false, fictitious and fraudulent statements” to the FBI regarding conversations with Russia’s ambassador.

Flynn is due to appear in court later on Friday morning, according to a court spokesperson. However, the White House has declined to immediately comment.

He is the first Trump administration official and the fourth connected to the campaign to be charged as part of Mueller’s investigation into possible collusion between the members of Trump’s team and the Russian government, as well as potential obstruction of justice.

Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and deputy Rick Gates were indicted last month, but they pleaded not guilty.

The Trump campaign foreign policy advisor George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty, for making a false statement to the FBI, over contacts with officials connected to the Russian government.

The charge against Flynn is the first in Mueller’s probe that reached someone in the Trump White House and is the latest sign that the special counsel investigation is likely to yield more results.