Michael Thomas "Mike" Flynn (born 24 December 1958) is a retired United States Army lieutenant general. On 20 January 2017, Flynn became the 24th United States National Security Advisor. He resigned on 13 February 2017. He last served as the 18th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, from 22 July 2012 to 7 August 2014.[1]
On 18 November 2016, Flynn accepted president-elect Donald Trump's offer of the position of National Security Advisor.[2]
The Wall Street Journal reported on 22 January 2017, that Flynn was under investigation by U.S. counterintelligence agents for his communications with Russian officials. On 13 February 2017, Flynn resigned the position of National Security Advisor.[3][4]
On 1 December 2017, it was reported that Flynn had accepted a deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller to plead guilty to a single count, that of "willfully and knowingly" making "false, fictitious and fraudulent statements" to the FBI, a felony.[5]
On 4 July 2020, Flynn announced his support and belief in the pro-Trump QAnon conspiracy theory.[6][7]
On 25 November 2020, Flynn was issued a presidential pardon by President Trump.[8]
After Trump lost his re-election in 2020, Flynn wanted Trump to suspend the United States Constitution, force martial law, silence the press, and hold a new election under military supervision as an attempt to overturn the election results.[9]