1st LD Writethru: Flynn pleads guilty to making false statement to FBI as White House downplays implication

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn on Friday pleaded guilty to lying regarding improper contacts with Russian officials, as the White House said the charges implicated no one else in the White House.

"My guilty plea and agreement to cooperate with the special counsel's office reflect a decision I made in the best interests of my family and of our country. I will accept full responsibility for my actions," Flynn told a court in Washington D.C.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office issued a statement earlier Friday specifying Flynn's charges, saying he lied to the Federal Bureau of Investigation about two contacts he's had with Russian officials prior to assuming office.

Flynn had falsely stated that on or about Dec. 29, 2016, he did not ask the Russian ambassador to the United States to "refrain from escalating the situation in response to sanctions" from the United States and that he did not remember receiving a call from the Russian ambassador notifying him that Russia has decided to moderate Moscow's response at the request of Flynn, the statement concluded.

The special counsel's office found that Flynn also falsely stated that he did not on Dec. 22, 2016 ask the Russian ambassador to the United States to "delay the vote on or defeat a pending United Nations Security Council resolution," and that he did not remember receiving a subsequent call from the Russian side.

Ty Cobb, a White House attorney, issued a statement following the revelation saying the White House has also been a victim to Flynn's lies and downplaying the implications of Flynn's plea.

"The false statements involved mirror the false statements to the White House officials which resulted in his resignation in February this year," Cobb said.

"Nothing about the guilty plea of the charge implicates anyone other than Mr. Flynn," he said. Enditem