Justice Department Settles Lawsuit from Trump Ally Michael Flynn for $1.2 Million

The settlement resolves a 2023 lawsuit in which Flynn sought at least $50 million and asserted that the criminal case against him amounted to a malicious prosecution.

Mar. 26, 2026 at 2:49am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Justice Department has settled a lawsuit from Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, for roughly $1.2 million. Flynn had sued the government for at least $50 million, claiming the criminal case against him amounted to a malicious prosecution. The settlement represents a stark turnabout for the Justice Department, which had previously pressed a judge to dismiss Flynn's complaint.

Why it matters

The settlement marks a significant development in the long-running legal saga involving Flynn, one of six Trump associates charged as part of the Russia investigation. It highlights the continued political fallout from the probe, which shadowed much of Trump's first term, and raises questions about the Justice Department's handling of the case under both the Trump and Biden administrations.

The details

The settlement resolves a 2023 lawsuit in which Flynn sought at least $50 million and asserted that the criminal case against him amounted to a malicious prosecution. Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with a top Russian diplomat, but later sought to withdraw his plea, saying federal prosecutors had acted in 'bad faith.' The Justice Department moved to dismiss the case in 2020, and Flynn was pardoned by Trump later that year.

  • In December 2017, Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with a Russian diplomat.
  • In 2020, the Justice Department moved to dismiss the case against Flynn, and he was pardoned by President Trump later that year.
  • In 2023, Flynn filed a lawsuit seeking at least $50 million from the government.
  • On March 26, 2026, the Justice Department settled the lawsuit for roughly $1.2 million.

The players

Michael Flynn

The former national security adviser to President Donald Trump who pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with a top Russian diplomat, but was later pardoned by Trump.

Pam Bondi

The current Attorney General, who has been a vocal critic of the Russia investigation in which Flynn was charged.

Robert Mueller

The special counsel who led the investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The settlement marks the end of the legal saga between Flynn and the Justice Department, though the broader political fallout from the Russia investigation is likely to continue.

The takeaway

The settlement highlights the ongoing political tensions surrounding the Russia investigation and the Justice Department's handling of cases involving Trump allies. It raises questions about the department's approach under both the Trump and Biden administrations, and underscores the lasting impact of the probe on the political landscape.