Former US Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn requested immunity in exchange for his potential testimony on Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election, according to a letter [text, PDF] sent Thursday from his attorney, Robert Kelner [corporate profile]. Flynn was appointed to the top post of the National Security Council [official website] by President Trump before resigning [text, PDF] at the President’s request less than a month later, following reports that he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about meetings with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. In the letter, Kelner refers to allegations against Flynn, including treason and other criminal activity, as “outrageous” and “vicious innuendo.” Despite denying those allegations, the letter does state “General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit.”

No reasonable person, who has the benefit of advice from counsel, would submit to questioning in such a highly politicized, witch hunt environment without assurances against unfair prosecution.

Allegations of Russian connections have been a problem for US President Donald Trump’s administration in the early stages of his presidency. Last week, FBI Director James Comey confirmed [JURIST report] that the FBI is investigating allegations of Russian interference with the 2016 US presidential election. Earlier this month US Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself [JURIST report] from probes into Russian interference after it was revealed that he had met with Russian officials [JURIST reports] during the campaign. In January a group of US Senators introduced legislation seeking to make mandatory sanctions enacted [JURIST reports] in December by then-president Barack Obama.