Donald Trump on Wednesday pardoned his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who had admitted to lying to the FBI in an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Flynn lasted only 24 days as Mr Trump's first national security adviser before he was fired by the president in early 2017, as controversy broke out over his interactions with the Russian ambassador at that time, Sergey Kislyak.
"It is my great honour to announce that Gen Michael Flynn has been granted a full pardon," Mr Trump wrote on Twitter.
"Congratulations to Gen Flynn and his wonderful family. I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving."
Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about contacts he had with Mr Kislyak leading up to the president's inauguration in January of that year.
He since sought to withdraw the plea, saying that prosecutors breached his rights and duped him into a plea agreement. His sentencing has been deferred several times.
This is among the highest-profile pardons granted by Mr Trump since he came to power.
This month he lost the presidential election to former vice president Joe Biden and made unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud.
Flynn was one of several former Trump aides to plead guilty or be convicted in former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia's interference, which Moscow still denies.
Mr Trump in March said he was strongly considering a full pardon for Flynn.
He claimed the FBI and Justice Department had "destroyed" Flynn's life and that of his family.
Mr Trump said an unspecified, unsubstantiated report claimed records related to Flynn had been lost.
Flynn was supposed to co-operate with the government as part of his plea deal, but he later switched lawyers and tactics.
He said prosecutors in the case tricked him into lying about his December 2016 conversations with Mr Kislyak.
Federal prosecutors had asked the judge in January to sentence Flynn to up to six months in prison, saying in a court filing that "the defendant has not learnt his lesson".
"He has behaved as though the law does not apply to him and as if there are no consequences for his actions," they said.
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West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
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Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
more from Janine di Giovanni
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
