Michael Flynn asks federal judge to spare him from prison time

<p>Former national security adviser Michael Flynn is trying to avoid going to prison.</p><p><a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5526100-Flynn-Defense-Sentencing-Memo.html#document/p6" target="_blank">In a memo sent to a federal judge</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, Flynn&#39;s lawyers requested their client be sentenced to probation and 200 hours of community service.</p><p>As part&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsy.com/stories/as-part-of-plea-deal-flynn-to-cooperate-with-mueller-team/" target="_blank">of his plea deal</a>&nbsp;for lying to investigators, Flynn&#39;s been cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller&#39;s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.</p><p>Flynn&#39;s lawyers cited that assistance in their memo, calling his cooperation &quot;timely and substantial.&quot;&nbsp;</p><p>Flynn&#39;s legal team tried to make the case that his lying to the investigators stemmed &mdash; at least in part &mdash; from the fact that he wasn&#39;t warned by the FBI that it&#39;s a crime to do so. They also allege that then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe recommend Flynn not have a lawyer present when he talked to the FBI agents about his Russia contacts.</p><p>Earlier this month, Mueller&#39;s team&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/special-counsel-robert-mueller-s-office-recommends-little-no-jail-n943446" target="_blank">similarly recommended</a>&nbsp;Flynn&#39;s sentence not include prison time. Flynn&#39;s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 18.</p><p>Additional reporting from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/" target="_blank">Newsy affiliate CNN.</a>&nbsp;</p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/marriott-data-breach-connected-to-chinese-hackers/">Marriott Hotel Chain Data Breach Connected To Chinese Hackers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/us-gun-death-rate-hit-20-year-high-in-2017/">US Gun Death Rate Hit 20-Year High In 2017</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/manafort-s-lawyers-address-lying-allegations-tuesday/">Manafort&#039;s Lawyers Address Lying Allegations In Court Tuesday</a></li></ul>