Former Trump aide pleads guilty to lying to FBI

Michael Flynn maintained contacts with Russian diplomats in 2016

Former Donald Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to having lied to FBI agents about his relationship with Russian representatives.

The former Republican aide confirmed in a court hearing on Friday that he had given false testimony about his contacts with Moscow's ambassador to Washington, Sergey Kislyak, last December during the transition period.

Flynn testified to the FBI on Jan. 24, four days after Trump's inauguration, when he denied meeting with Kislyak. According to the broadcaster ABC, he would be willing to testify against the tycoon.

The news that Mr. Flynn had allegedly lied to investigators indicates that he has decided to collaborate with the team of special prosecutor Robert Mueller, who is responsible for investigating Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 US elections.

Taken to the government by Trump, Flynn had to leave his post last February after revelation that he had hidden phone contacts with Russian diplomacy. The calls were intercepted by the FBI and caught up with Kislyak about the sanctions imposed by Barack Obama over alleged Kremlin action in the elections.

In the first half of the year, the American press reported that the president would have asked the then FBI chief, James Comey, later dismissed, to file a lawsuit against Flynn. "He's a good guy, I hope you can let it go," the Republican said.