Flynn's Sentencing Hearing Takes Unexpected Turn

Michael Flynn's fate was in the hands of Judge Emmet Sullivan on Tuesday, and the federal judge dished out a surprise twist: The sentencing ended up being delayed after Sullivan suggested Flynn could actually get prison time despite the prosecution's recommendation he get none. Sullivan was doing no coddling at the start. "Arguably, you sold your country out," is how he put it to President Trump's former national security adviser, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the US. Sullivan added he "can't hide my disgust, my disdain" at Flynn's misdeeds.

CNBC reports Sullivan offered Flynn the option of postponing the hearing in order to cooperate further with Robert Mueller's probe. "If you want to postpone this, and come back at some later point ... that’s fine with me," Sullivan said, advising him that the sentence could be different if he went that route. "I can not assure you that if you proceed today, you will not receive a sentence of incarceration," Sullivan said. After a recess, Flynn's attorneys requested such a delay. The AP reports Sullivan scheduled a status conference for March. (More Michael Flynn stories.)