Former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Charged With Lying to FBI

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (L) jokes with retired Gen. Michael Flynn as they speak at a rally at Grand Junction Regional Airport on October 18, 2016 in Grand Junction Colorado. Trump is on his way to Las Vegas for the third and final presidential debate against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. (Photo: George Frey/Getty Images)

Former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Charged With Lying to FBI

"Canary bird will sing," predicts former White House ethics lawyer. "The beginning of the end."

This is a breaking news story and may be updated...

President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn was charged by Special Counsel Robert Muller on Friday with lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

Flynn is expected to plead guilty in a Friday court appearance.

As CNNnotes, "Flynn 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 Russian government and members of Trump's team, as well as potential obstruction of justice and financial crimes."

The perjury charge comes just a week after Flynn informed Trump's legal team that he would no longer discuss the special counsel's investigation with the White House, a move widely viewed as an indication that Flynn is cooperating with Mueller's probe.

Noah Bookbinder, executive director of Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington (CREW), argued that the relatively minor charge against Flynn "suggests [he] is cooperating and that cooperation is expected to be important."

CREW's Richard Painter also responded to the charge:

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