Mike Flynn may be willing to testify about Russia’s influence in the election of his former boss Donald Trump, “should the circumstances permit.”So said a statement released by Flynn’s lawyer Thursday evening. Flynn, the former national security adviser to Trump who was forced to resign in February after it became clear he discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia with the country’s ambassador before Trump took office, told the FBI and Congress that he is willing to be interviewed in exchange for immunity from prosecution, the Wall Street Journal reported.“General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit,” his lawyer, Robert Kelner, wrote in the statement. Kelner confirmed only that Flynn, a retired Army general, was discussing potential terms with the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, not with the FBI.
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During the campaign, Flynn was one of Trump’s closest advisers and was given a prime-time speaking slot at the Republican National Convention. When the intelligence community began briefing Trump as the Republican nominee, Trump had Flynn sit in on those briefings.Flynn’s previous ties to Russia have come under scrutiny following revelations that he received tens of thousands of dollars from Russian companies, including the Kremlin-backed media company RT, for speeches he made before formally becoming an adviser to Trump.The offer to be interviewed in exchange for immunity, while a notable twist in the ongoing Russia saga, is neither an admission of any kind of guilt nor a confirmation that Flynn has any damning information about collusion with Russia. And he could still be called to testify without any deals being cut.“No reasonable person,” Kelner said in the statement, “who has the benefit of advice from counsel, would submit to questioning in such a highly politicized, witch-hunt environment without assurances against unfair prosecution.”Flynn’s offer, however, had reportedly not yet been accepted by officials.