Michael Flynn sentencing delayed

By Veronica Rocha and Brian Ries, CNN

Updated 4:08 p.m. ET, December 18, 2018
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2:57 p.m. ET, December 18, 2018

Our live coverage of Michael Flynn's sentencing hearing has ended. Scroll through the posts below to see how it unfolded or read more about it at CNN Politics.

1:42 p.m. ET, December 18, 2018

Protesters chant "lock him up" as Michael Flynn walks out of court

President Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn leaves federal court in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018.
President Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn leaves federal court in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

People outside the federal courthouse were heard chanting "lock him up" and "USA" as Michael Flynn left the building following the delay of his sentencing.

Flynn left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.

Judge Emmet Sullivan postponed Flynn's sentencing until 2019. Both sides now have until March 13 to file a status report with the court.

Watch it here:

1:11 p.m. ET, December 18, 2018

Court adjourns in Flynn sentencing hearing

From CNN's Katelyn Polantz and Marshall Cohen

Judge Emmet Sullivan adjourned Michael Flynn's sentencing hearing.

Sullivan's last words to the court were "Happy holidays."

When the hearing concluded with no final resolution on Flynn’s sentence, members of his family exited the court with stoic looks and slowly filed out. Some had what looked like a thousand-yard stare. It was an emotional hearing.

4:04 p.m. ET, December 18, 2018

Judge delays Flynn sentencing

From CNN's Katelyn Polantz

(Bill Hennessy)
(Bill Hennessy)

Michael Flynn will not be sentenced today. 

Judge Emmet Sullivan says it is fine to delay Flynn's sentencing and proceed by having both sides update the judge on his case in March.

12:58 p.m. ET, December 18, 2018

Flynn's attorney asks judge to delay sentencing

From CNN's Katelyn Polantz

Michael Flynn's attorney has asked Judge Emmet Sullivan to delay the sentencing.

"We are prepared to take your honor up on his suggestion of delaying sentencing, so he can (sic) out the last modicum of cooperation" in Virginia, the attorney said.

Prosecutors said they had no problems delaying the sentencing.

 

4:02 p.m. ET, December 18, 2018

Judge walks back treason questions

From CNN's Katelyn Polantz

(Bill Hennessy)
(Bill Hennessy)

Judge Emmet Sullivan started the second part of the proceedings by walking back some of his harshest comments. 

"I made a statement about Mr. Flynn acting as a foreign agent in the White House," he said. Sullivan added that he realized that was incorrect.

Prosecutor Brandon Van Grack said the foreign lobbying Flynn did ended before the Trump administration began.

Sullivan also walked back his treason questions. "I'm not suggesting" Flynn committed treason, Sullivan now said.

"I was just trying to determine the benefit and the generosity of the government," he said. "Don't read too much into the questions I ask."

Van Grack said Mueller's team has "no concern" or no reason to think Flynn committed treason.

12:46 p.m. ET, December 18, 2018

Court is back in session

The sentencing hearing for Michael Flynn has commenced after a short recess.

Judge Emmet Sullivan immediately informed the court he has more questions.

12:33 p.m. ET, December 18, 2018

Judge in Flynn case was appointed by Clinton to federal bench

Judge Emmet Sullivan, who is presiding over Michael Flynn's sentencing, was appointed to the federal bench by former President Bill Clinton in 1994.

In 1984, President Reagan appointed him to the DC Superior Court, and in 1991 President George H.W. Bush appointed Sullivan to the DC Court of Appeals.

12:23 p.m. ET, December 18, 2018

The mood inside the courtroom shifted during judge's treason questions

From CNN's Marshall Cohen

More than a dozen friends and family members were in the courtroom for Michael Flynn's sentencing.

Before the hearing, their mood was somewhat jovial. People were smiling and chatting. When Flynn walked into the courtroom, he greeted his family members with a smile, saying, “You made it!”

But the mood visibly shifted as the hearing progressed and things got much more serious, specifically when Judge Emmet Sullivan admonished Flynn for lying, saying he “arguably sold your country out” and brought up questions of treason.

Two of Flynn’s sisters sat with their fingers pressed upon their lips. Another member of the Flynn party tensely leaned forward to hear the answers when the judge asked prosecutors about whether Flynn’s actions were treasonous.