This archive report was first published on 14 May 2020.
May 14, 2020 - In a move that has sparked outrage, a federal judge has appointed an outsider to argue against the Justice Department's effort to drop the case against President Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Judge Emmet G. Sullivan of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia appointed John Gleeson, a retired judge, to present arguments in opposition to the department's request to withdraw the charge against Mr. Flynn.
Mr. Flynn had pleaded guilty to lying to investigators as part of a larger inquiry into Russia's interference in the 2016 election. However, the Justice Department abruptly moved last week to withdraw its charge against him.
Judge Sullivan also asked Judge Gleeson to address whether the court should explore the possibility that Mr. Flynn opened himself up to perjury charges by pleading guilty under oath to a felony charge of making false statements to federal authorities.
The move has prompted accusations from current and former law enforcement officials that Attorney General William P. Barr has politicized the Justice Department to protect allies of President Trump.
