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.
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
PREMIER LEAGUE STATS
Romelu Lukaku's goalscoring statistics in the Premier League
Season/club/appearances (substitute)/goals
2011/12 Chelsea: 8(7) - 0
2012/13 West Brom (loan): 35(15) - 17
2013/14 Chelsea: 2(2) - 0
2013/14 Everton (loan): 31(2) - 15
2014/15 Everton: 36(4) - 10
2015/16 Everton: 37(1) - 18
2016/17 Everton: 37(1) - 25
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
