President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that he had granted full pardon to the former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.
“It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon. Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving!,” Trump tweeted.
Flynn admitted to lying to the FBI and other people at the White House about his contacts with the Russians during the Trump transition.
The pardon is a controversial one that many other former Presidents would not have granted.
Trump collision with the Russians during the 2016 elections led to his impeachment at the House of Representatives. Trump was not removed from power by the Senate where the Republicans had a majority.
The impeachment followed a long investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Trump has been accused of using his powers to pardon his friends and allies and not the people who had been wrongfully convicted.
Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa. Simon covers President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. government, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington D.C. and New York City.