WASHINGTON _ Former national security adviser Michael Flynn said Friday he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI because his actions were wrong and he wanted to "set things right."
"I recognize that the actions I acknowledged in court today were wrong, and, through my faith in God, I am working to set things right," Flynn said in a statement issued by his lawyer minutes after Flynn entered his plea in federal court.
He added, "My guilty plea and agreement to cooperate with the Special Counsel's Office reflect a decision I made in the best interests of my family and of our country. I accept full responsibility for my actions."
According to the plea deal, Flynn lied to FBI agents about whether he asked the Russian government in December 2016 to hold off on retaliating against sanctions imposed by then-President Barack Obama for trying to interfere with the campaign. He also lied about how the Russian government had agreed to "moderate its response."
Flynn lost his job as national security adviser in February, only 24 days after Trump's inauguration, after The Washington Post revealed that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about his communications with then-Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
"After over 33 years of military service to our country, including nearly five years in combat away from my family, and then my decision to continue to serve the United States, it has been extraordinarily painful to endure these many months of false accusations of "treason" and other outrageous acts," Flynn said.
