{"entity":{"id":114,"slug":"michael-flynn","name":"Michael Flynn","type":"person","role":"Former National Security Adviser; convicted felon; pardoned","description":"Retired US Army Lieutenant General. National Security Adviser January-February 2017. Resigned after lying to FBI about Russian contacts. Pled guilty to lying to investigators. Pardoned by Trump November 2020. Flynn's intelligence community relationships and post-pardon influence make him a significant node in the network between military intelligence, political operatives, and the pro-Trump coalition.","imageUrl":null,"createdAt":"2026-04-05T19:58:39.440Z","updatedAt":"2026-06-17T13:57:47.067Z"},"electedOffice":null,"significance":{"score":14.6,"components":{"totalFindings":5,"connectionDegree":5.6,"recentFindings90d":0,"activeResearchJobs":0,"goblinAttributions":4,"recentSyntheses90d":0,"moneyFlowChainsTotal":0,"closedLoopMemberships":0,"moneyFlowHopsRecent90d":0},"computedAt":"2026-10-16T01:34:31.424Z"},"facts":[{"id":19149,"text":"DOJ settled Flynn's wrongful prosecution lawsuit for $1.2 million in March 2026","confidence":"primary","dateOccurred":"2026-03-25","source":{"title":"Multiple news reports and court filings","url":"https://www.foxnews.com/politics/doj-settles-michael-flynn-russia-probe-wrongful-prosecution-claim-historic-injustice","publication":"Directed Inquiry — Web Search"}},{"id":19152,"text":"Army notified Flynn in May 2022 it would seek to recoup over $38,000 of compensation he received for Moscow speech","confidence":"primary","dateOccurred":"2022-05-01","source":{"title":"Defense Department Inspector General investigation","url":"https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/michael-flynn-nuclear-middle-east-secret-payments-1236261/","publication":"Directed Inquiry — Web Search"}},{"id":11142,"text":"FEC records definitively establish Michael J. Flynn as holding the specific title 'Director of Safety & Health' at the International Association of Machinists, with consistent employer and geographic data across multiple contribution records","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":"2020-2024","source":null},{"id":19150,"text":"Flynn was pardoned by President Trump on November 25, 2020","confidence":"primary","dateOccurred":"2020-11-25","source":{"title":"Official White House statement and court records","url":"https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5801908-doj-michael-flynn-lawsuit-settlement/","publication":"Directed Inquiry — Web Search"}},{"id":19143,"text":"Flynn agreed to have $100,000 in liquid assets in escrow account turned over to Clerk of Court 30 days before sentencing","confidence":"primary","dateOccurred":"2017-12-01","source":{"title":"DOJ plea agreement document","url":"https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/1162491/dl","publication":"Directed Inquiry — Web Search"}},{"id":19142,"text":"Flynn agreed to forfeit assets in TD Ameritrade account ending in 3432 held in his name","confidence":"primary","dateOccurred":"2017-12-01","source":{"title":"DOJ plea agreement document","url":"https://www.justice.gov/file/1015126/download","publication":"Directed Inquiry — Web Search"}},{"id":19141,"text":"Flynn agreed to forfeit $327,500 settlement amount or real property as part of his plea agreement","confidence":"primary","dateOccurred":"2017-12-01","source":{"title":"DOJ plea agreement document","url":"https://law.stanford.edu/2020/05/11/doj-drops-charges-against-former-national-security-advisor-michael-flynn/","publication":"Directed Inquiry — Web Search"}},{"id":19144,"text":"Flynn earned over $1.3 million in 2016 from lobbying, speeches, and consulting work according to financial disclosures","confidence":"primary","dateOccurred":"2017-03-31","source":{"title":"White House financial disclosure forms","url":"https://www.justsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/121818am-USA-v-Michael-Flynn-Sentencing.pdf","publication":"Directed Inquiry — Web Search"}},{"id":19151,"text":"Flynn initially underreported more than $150,000 in 2016 income on his first financial disclosure form","confidence":"primary","dateOccurred":"2017-02-11","source":{"title":"White House financial disclosure comparison","url":"https://dannielleblumenthal.com/2026/03/30/flynn-and-turkey/","publication":"Directed Inquiry — Web Search"}},{"id":19148,"text":"Flynn sold his home to pay legal fees estimated at approximately $5 million","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":"2017-01-01","source":{"title":"News reports citing legal expenses","url":"https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/michael-flynns-sentencing-back-limbo-amid-latest-legal/story?id=64218842","publication":"Directed Inquiry — Web Search"}},{"id":19147,"text":"Flynn received $140,000 from NJK Holding Corporation led by Iranian-American businessman Nasser Kazeminy","confidence":"primary","dateOccurred":"2016-01-01","source":{"title":"Amended financial disclosure forms","url":"https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/document-court-unseals-documents-flynn-case","publication":"Directed Inquiry — Web Search"}},{"id":19145,"text":"Flynn received $45,386 from RT Russian television network for December 2015 Moscow gala","confidence":"primary","dateOccurred":"2015-12-01","source":{"title":"Financial disclosure forms","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Flynn","publication":"Directed Inquiry — Web Search"}},{"id":19146,"text":"Flynn received $11,250 from Volga-Dnepr Airlines affiliate and $11,250 from Kaspersky Lab US subsidiary in 2015","confidence":"primary","dateOccurred":"2015-01-01","source":{"title":"Financial disclosure forms","url":"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3913715-Michael-Flynn-amended-public-financial-disclosure/","publication":"Directed Inquiry — Web Search"}},{"id":2873,"text":"Michael Flynn filed filing with the SEC on 2009-12-03. Accession number: N/A.","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":"2009-12-03","source":{"title":"SEC EDGAR: filing — Michael Flynn (2009-12-03)","url":"https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?company=Michael%20Flynn&CIK=&type=&dateb=&owner=include&count=40&search_text=&action=getcompany","publication":"SEC EDGAR"}},{"id":5369,"text":"Multiple SEC EDGAR filings span from 2004 to 2023, suggesting either a corporate executive/insider role or that this is a common name appearing across different individuals in SEC records","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":"2004-2023","source":null},{"id":11143,"text":"Name-based financial database searches for 'Michael Flynn' require geographic and employer verification to distinguish between at least three distinct individuals: former NSA Michael T. Flynn, union director Michael J. Flynn (Owings, MD), and AT&T executive Michael E. Flynn (Dublin, CA)","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":10008,"text":"Flynn's documented legal expenses and felony conviction status during 2017-2019 may have created both financial constraints and procedural complications for standard political contribution activities","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":10007,"text":"The systematic absence of Michael T. Flynn from FEC databases during his period of peak political influence suggests either deliberate avoidance of reportable individual contributions or exclusive use of alternative political finance mechanisms","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":10006,"text":"Michael T. Flynn's absence from FEC individual contribution records during 2016-2020 is anomalous compared to typical political donation patterns of former senior military officers transitioning to political roles","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":10005,"text":"Name-based FEC database searches for 'Michael Flynn' systematically conflate at least three distinct individuals, indicating broader data quality issues that could affect investigations of other common surnames in political finance research","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":10004,"text":"The complete absence of individual FEC contribution records for Michael T. Flynn during 2016-2020 contrasts with typical contribution patterns of senior military officers transitioning to political roles, suggesting either genuine non-participation in individual political donations or use of alternative financial vehicles","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8110,"text":"Database name conflation issues systematically affect investigations of public figures named Michael Flynn, requiring verification through multiple data points including geographic location, employer information, and contribution patterns","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8109,"text":"The absence of former NSA Michael T. Flynn from standard FEC individual contribution databases during his peak political activity period (2016-2020) suggests he either made no reportable individual contributions or used alternative financial vehicles not captured in individual donor records","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8108,"text":"SEC EDGAR data quality issues, evidenced by missing accession numbers for Michael Flynn filings spanning 2004-2023, indicate potential systematic problems with name-based financial database searches","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8107,"text":"The absence of former NSA Michael T. Flynn from available FEC contribution records suggests either incomplete data coverage, use of alternative name variations, or genuine lack of reportable political contributions","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8106,"text":"FEC records demonstrate systematic name conflation issues affecting investigations of public figures, with at least two definitively distinct Michael Flynn individuals (union director in Maryland, AT&T executive in California) appearing in political contribution databases","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8105,"text":"Name-based searches for 'Michael Flynn' in financial databases systematically conflate at least three distinct individuals: the former NSA, a union director in Maryland, and an AT&T executive in California","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8104,"text":"Union official Michael J. Flynn's political contribution pattern ($40-$141.11 donations to IAM political league) represents typical mid-level labor union political participation rather than high-profile political operative activity","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8103,"text":"FEC records definitively establish Michael J. Flynn of Owings, MD as a Director of Safety & Health at the International Association of Machinists, distinct from former NSA Michael T. Flynn","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8102,"text":"No FEC contribution records in available datasets connect to former National Security Advisor Michael T. Flynn, suggesting either data gaps or use of alternative name variations","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8101,"text":"FEC records definitively establish Michael E. Flynn (AT&T executive, Dublin CA) and Michael J. Flynn (union director, Owings MD) as distinct individuals based on employer, occupation, and geographic data","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8100,"text":"Geographic and employer data in FEC records definitively distinguish at least two separate Michael Flynn individuals: one AT&T executive in California and one union director in Maryland","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":8099,"text":"The Michael Flynn SEC filings from 2004-2023 lack proper accession numbers, indicating potential data aggregation issues that could affect the reliability of name-based financial record searches","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":5373,"text":"No SEC filings or FEC records in this dataset appear connected to the notable former National Security Advisor Michael T. Flynn - these appear to be different individuals","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":5372,"text":"The SEC filings and FEC donations may represent multiple different individuals named Michael Flynn rather than a single person, requiring further verification to distinguish between them","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":5371,"text":"Michael J. Flynn made multiple small donations ($40-$141.11) to the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers political league, indicating likely employment in the aerospace/machinist industry","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":5370,"text":"FEC records show donations from at least two distinct individuals: Michael E. Flynn (AT&T employee donating to AT&T PAC) and Michael J. Flynn (consistent union member donating to Machinists union political league)","confidence":"inferential","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":5367,"text":"No court records found for \"Michael Flynn\" in public databases as of 2026-04-07.","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":5366,"text":"No lobbying disclosures found for \"Michael Flynn\" in public databases as of 2026-04-07.","confidence":"secondary","dateOccurred":null,"source":null},{"id":5362,"text":"FLYNN, MICHAEL J of OWINGS, MD (employer: INT'L ASSOC. OF MACHINISTS, occupation: DIRECTOR OF SAFETY & HEALTH) made a campaign contribution of $141.11 to MACHINISTS NON PARTISAN POL LEAGUE OF THE INT'L ASSN OF MACHINISTS & AEROSPACE WORKERS on unknown date. FEC transaction ID: PR244852517990.","confidence":"primary","dateOccurred":null,"source":{"title":"FEC: FLYNN, MICHAEL J donation $141.11 to MACHINISTS NON PARTISAN POL LEAGUE OF THE INT'L ASSN OF MACHINISTS & AEROSPACE WORKERS","url":"https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/?committee_id=C00002469&contributor_name=Michael%20Flynn","publication":"Federal Election Commission (FEC)"}}],"connections":[{"id":8109,"relationshipType":"attorney_client","description":"Powell replaced Flynn's original lawyers in June 2019","confidence":"confirmed","firstDocumented":null,"lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":6926,"name":"Sidney Powell","slug":"sidney-powell","type":"person"}},{"id":8107,"relationshipType":"vice_chairman","description":"Flynn served as vice chairman of the technology company","confidence":"confirmed","firstDocumented":null,"lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":6937,"name":"GreenZone Systems","slug":"greenzone-systems","type":"company"}},{"id":8105,"relationshipType":"consultant","description":"NJK paid Flynn $140,000 for advisory work","confidence":"confirmed","firstDocumented":null,"lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":6935,"name":"NJK Holding Corporation","slug":"njk-holding-corporation","type":"company"}},{"id":588,"relationshipType":"colleague","description":"Peter Navarro served as White House trade advisor in the Trump administration where Michael Flynn briefly served as National Security Advisor. Both were prominent figures in Trump's inner circle.","confidence":"inferential","firstDocumented":"2017","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":113,"name":"Peter Navarro","slug":"peter-navarro","type":"person"}},{"id":586,"relationshipType":"political_network","description":"Both served in Trump administration national security roles and remain active in Trump-aligned political networks. Grenell's 2025 donations to Trump-supporting entities indicate continued participation in this political ecosystem.","confidence":"inferential","firstDocumented":"2025","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":112,"name":"Ric Grenell","slug":"ric-grenell","type":"person"}},{"id":581,"relationshipType":"colleague","description":"Both served in senior roles in the Trump administration's national security apparatus during overlapping periods","confidence":"inferential","firstDocumented":"2017","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":110,"name":"Mike Pompeo","slug":"mike-pompeo","type":"person"}},{"id":398,"relationshipType":"political_association","description":"Both Gabbard and Flynn have been associated with similar political trajectories - military veterans who became controversial political figures with non-interventionist foreign policy views. Both met with Trump during his 2016 transition. Gabbard's later departure from the Democratic Party and endorsement of Republican candidates placed her in similar political circles.","confidence":"inferential","firstDocumented":"2016","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":16,"name":"Tulsi Gabbard","slug":"tulsi-gabbard","type":"elected_official"}},{"id":17070,"relationshipType":"recoupment action by","description":"The Army notified Flynn in May 2022 it would seek to recoup over $38,000 of compensation he received for a Moscow speech.","confidence":"primary","firstDocumented":"2022","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":81,"name":"US Army","slug":"us-army","type":"institution"}},{"id":17069,"relationshipType":"received payment from","description":"Flynn received $11,250 from Kaspersky Lab US subsidiary in 2015.","confidence":"primary","firstDocumented":"2015","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":6942,"name":"Kaspersky Lab","slug":"kaspersky-lab","type":"company"}},{"id":17068,"relationshipType":"received payment from","description":"Flynn received $11,250 from a Volga-Dnepr Airlines affiliate in 2015.","confidence":"primary","firstDocumented":"2015","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":6941,"name":"Volga-Dnepr Airlines","slug":"volga-dnepr-airlines","type":"company"}},{"id":17067,"relationshipType":"pardoned by","description":"Michael Flynn was pardoned by President Donald Trump on November 25, 2020.","confidence":"primary","firstDocumented":"2020","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":9122,"name":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","type":"person"}},{"id":351,"relationshipType":"colleague","description":"Both served in the Trump White House, with Flynn as National Security Advisor (briefly in 2017) and Miller as Senior Advisor. Both were subjects of January 6th Select Committee investigation.","confidence":"primary","firstDocumented":"2017","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":6,"name":"Stephen Miller","slug":"stephen-miller","type":"person"}},{"id":17186,"relationshipType":"Political appointee supporter","description":"Rebekah Mercer was instrumental in recommending Michael Flynn for Cabinet positions as part of the 2016 Trump transition team.","confidence":"secondary","firstDocumented":"2016","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":136,"name":"Rebekah Mercer","slug":"rebekah-mercer","type":"person"}},{"id":396,"relationshipType":"colleague","description":"Bannon served as White House Chief Strategist and attended National Security Council meetings in an advisory capacity during the same period Flynn served as National Security Advisor in the Trump administration.","confidence":"secondary","firstDocumented":"2017","lastDocumented":null,"other":{"id":15,"name":"Steve Bannon","slug":"steve-bannon","type":"person"}}],"contradictions":[],"permalink":"https://www.goblinhouse.net/entity/michael-flynn","timelineUrl":"https://www.goblinhouse.net/entity/michael-flynn/timeline"}