Insiders have denied that President Trump was behind a tweet made on his Twitter account that appeared to incriminate him.

The Saturday tweet, written in Trump's voice, said that the president knew Michael Flynn lied to the FBI and that this was why he fired him in February.

That led to claims that the president could be prosecuted for obstruction of justice, as he reportedly told James Comey to stop investigating Flynn after firing him.

But later that same day, two sources told The Washington Post that his personal lawyer, John Dowd, had authored the tweet.

It's not clear whether Trump saw it before it was sent.

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This tweet by Donald Trump led to accusations that the president had obstructed justice after allegedly telling James Comey to back off Michael Flynn while also knowing that Flynn lied to the FBI. But now the White House says his personal lawyer made the tweet

The tweet was fired off while Trump was stuck in traffic in a motorcade in New York City, leading to critics accusing him of committing a crime

The tweet said the president knew Flynn had lied to federal investigators over his contact with Russian officials but that he never needed to because all his their interactions were 'lawful'.

'I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI,' it said. 'He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!'

The tweet was sent while Trump's motorcade was stuck in traffic as it left a Republican fundraising event in New York City.

It appeared to be an attempt by the president to defend Flynn and disprove suspicion that there was any collusion between his aides and the Kremlin.

Instead, it placed scrutiny back on him and fueled talk of a different offense entirely.

Democrats were quick to jump on it, saying that if - as claimed - Trump allegedly asked then-FBI head James Comey to 'go easy' on Flynn after his firing, he had obstructed justice.

Flynn was fired on February 13. At the time, the president said the decision was based on him misleading Vice President Mike Pence about his interaction with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak on December 22.

He did not admit to knowing Flynn lied in an interview with the FBI in January.

Now two inside sources are claiming that John Dowd, the president's personal lawyer, is the one who made the tweet, taking the blame off Trump's shoulders

On February 14, Trump met with FBI Director Comey. Comey claims he was asked during this meeting to 'go easy' on Flynn and drop the investigation into Russian collusion.

He was fired on May 9 and says it was because he never complied with this alleged request.

The president has never admitted asking him to 'go easy' on Flynn and said that he fired him over his handling of the Hillary Clinton email scandal - which many say won him the election - months earlier.

Incredulous Democrats tweeted their disbelief over Trump's remarks on Saturday.

'The president asked his FBI Director to let his National Security Advisor off the hook for committing the crime of lying to the FBI.

'When Comey refused, he was fired. There's your obstruction case,' said Jon Favreau, one of Barack Obama's speech writers.

Political journalist Matthew Miller echoed his astonishment.

'Oh my god, he just admitted to obstruction of justice. If Trump knew Flynn lied to the FBI when he asked Comey to let it go, then there is your case.

'Never tweet.* *Especially if you’re going to tweet an admission to a crime,' he said.

President Trump has never admitted asking Comey to 'go easy' on Flynn.

In June, fired FBI Director James Comey testified that in regards to Flynn, Trump told him on February 14: 'I hope you can let this go.'

Comey said he was talking about Flynn, who he fired days earlier.

Obama White House staffers and political journalists were stunned by the tweet and said it proved obstruction of justice on the part of the president

Earlier on Saturday, Trump spoke outside the White House to say he was 'not worried' by Flynn's admission of guilt because it still did not prove Russian collusion

Trump's Saturday tweet turned all talk of collusion into questions of obstructions of justice. Critics said it was enough for him to be impeached if it could be proven that he indeed asked Comey to drop the investigation.

The president was unperturbed by Flynn's admission of guilt and told reporters earlier in the day that it did not incriminate him or anyone in his camp.

Asked if he was worried about what Flynn will now reveal, Trump said without a beat: 'No I am not. What has been shown is what has been shown is there's been absolutely no collusion so we're very happy.'

He refused to say whether or not he would stand by Flynn, saying only: 'We'll see what happens'.

He then tried to steer reporters' attention to Republicans' overnight victory in the Senate where they managed to approve a drastic tax overhaul bill in the early hours of the morning.

On Friday, Flynn suddenly admitted lying to the FBI about not having contact with Russian officials when he was part of Trump's team

On June 8, former FBI Director James Comey testified that the president asked him to 'go easy' on Flynn on February 14, the day after Flynn was fired

Comey was fired on May 9. He testified earlier this year that he believes he was let go for not dropping the investigation into Flynn and into the White House's possible collusion with Russia - a claim Trump has always denied

Comey revelled in Flynn's guilty plea on Friday and tweeted this Bible verse

HOW WE GOT HERE: TRUMP, FLYNN, COMEY AND RUSSIA December 22, 2016: A 'very senior member' of the Trump transition team tells Flynn to 'contact officials from foreign governments, including Russia' to discuss U.N. resolution on Israeli settlements According to prosecutors, Flynn and Kislyak have a conversation in which Flynn asks Russia to vote against the resolution or to delay it. December 15: Flynn texts Kislyak to wish him a Merry Christmas December 28: Obama announces punitive measures on Russia for interfering in the campaign December 29: Prosecutors say Flynn calls unnamed senior WH official who was at Mar-a-Lago to ask what he should say to Kislyak about measures. Flynn asked Kislyak to dial down Russia's response to Obama's announcement and he agreed. This is what is alleged in charging documents which Flynn has now pleaded guilty to January 20: Trump is sworn in January 22: Flynn is sworn in January 24: Flynn is interviewed by FBI about December conversations with Kislyak. During this interview, he lied about what they discussed - namely claiming it was not an inappropriate request from him for them to dial down their response to Obama's announcement January 26: Acting AG Sally Yates tells WH special counsel Flynn lied to the press, who he has since told that he did not discuss sanctions February 9: Vice President Mike Pence learns of Yates' warning February 13: Flynn resigns at the president's request. He says it is because he 'incorrectly' briefed Pence about Kislyak phone calls. Trump gives a statement saying he fired Flynn because he lied to Vice President Pence. February 14: President and James Comey meet with others in the Oval Office. Afterwards, he asks him to stay behind to discuss the investigationin to Flynn. Trump allegedly tells Comey that Flynn 'is a good guy,' saying he hopes Comey 'can let this go.' May 9: Trump fires Comey, claiming it is because of his handling of Hillary Clinton's email scandal months earlier May 17: Mueller appointed to take over Russia probe June 8: Comey testifies about the meeting in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Trump denies it through his attorneys and in the media, saying: 'No collusion, no obstruction, he's a leaker. We want to get back to running our great country.' November 30: FBI files charges against Flynn December 1: Flynn pleads guilty and agrees to cooperate with investigators December 2: Trump at first says he is 'not worried' about Flynn's contact with Russian officials. At 12.14pm the tweet is posted Advertisement

'Frankly, last night was one of the big nights,' said Trump, before making his way on to the South Lawn to board Marine One.

He went on to a fundraising breakfast in New York City where he continued to bask in the win.

As Trump brushed off Flynn's sudden admission of guilt, the disgraced army general was rebuked by former comrades.

Among them was Lt. General. Mark Hertling who said he acted in 'hubris and vengeance' by agreeing to meet officials to further Trump's presidential run.

'Mike Flynn went over the top, and that was the first indicator that something was desperately wrong with this guy,' Hertling said of Flynn's apparent obsession with a Trump election victory.

'I think something went wrong toward the end of his career; that demons got ahold of him, and for one reason or another, hubris and vengeance took over where, in the past, there had been professionalism,' he said.

Several White House sources say Jared Kushner is who Flynn claims ordered him to contact Russian officials on December 22 to discuss a United Nations resolution on Israel.

Former White House National Security Advisor K.T. Mcfarland, who currently works as the U.S. ambassador to Singapore, has also been accused of speaking to Flynn on December 29 about Russian sanctions in a meeting at Mar-A-Lago.

Jared in the crosshairs: NBC and CNN named Kushner as the mystery senior Trump official who Flynn, in testimony under oath, says ordered him to contact Russia

Former White House National Security Advisor K.T. Mcfarland (right) has also been accused of speaking to Flynn (left) on December 29 about Russian sanctions in a meeting at Mar-A-Lago

Sergey Kislyak was Russia's ambassador to the U.S. when Flynn spoke to him before Trump's inauguration. Four days later Flynn lied to the FBI about what he said to the Putin diplomat

Their names emerged on Friday as Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about contacts with Russia and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors delving deeper into the actions of Trump's inner circle before he took office in January.

A federal statement of offense against Flynn states that a 'very senior' member of the Trump transition team 'directed' Flynn to reach out to foreign leaders about a UN resolution – 'including Russia' – to find out where the leaders stood.

The information laid out by prosecutors against Flynn outline a series of conversations undertaken by Flynn to influence a UN security resolution about Israel during the final days of the Obama administration.

Now that Kushner has been identified as that 'very senior' member, the focus of the investigation moves even closer to Trump.

The 1799 Logan Act, which is rarely invoked in prosecutions, makes it a federal crime to negotiate with foreign governments who have a dispute with the US. Flynn's contacts with Russia took place while the prior administration was already in place - and Trump and his team did not yet have formal governing power.

In addition, Kushner was still a private citizen at the time and real estate developer who quickly became a close confidante and adviser to his father-in-law's presidential campaign.

Notorious figure: Kisylak (right) was in communication with Flynn before Trump took office - but long after the inauguration he was invited to the Oval Office with Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, for a meeting with Trump which was photographed by Russian media, not American reporters

Outside of any testimony Flynn may be able to provide, Kushner has other potential exposure – having failed to disclose numerous foreign contacts including with Russians on his SF-86 form, which was required to gain his security clearance.

Flynn has promised to testify 'against Trump, against members of his family, and others in the White House.'

The former trusted aide said he will provide 'full cooperation' to Special Counsel Robert Mueller in his Russia probe after his stunning guilty plea in federal court Friday morning.

'My guilty plea and agreement to cooperate with the special counsel’s office reflect a decision I made in the best interest of my family and of our country. I accept full responsibility for my actions,' Flynn said in a statement.

I LET DOWN MY COUNTRY BUT I'M NOT A TRAITOR: FLYNN'S EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENT... After over thirty-three years of military service to our country including five years in combat away from my family and then my decision to continue to serve the United States, it has been extraordinarily painful to endure these many months of false accusations of treason and other outrageous acts. Such false accusations are contrary to everything I’ve ever done and stood for. But I recognize that the actions I acknowledged in court today were wrong. Through my faith in God I am working to set things right. My guilty plea and agreement to cooperate with the special counsel’s office reflect a decision I made in the best interest of my family and of our country. I accept full responsibility for my actions.' Advertisement

Judge Rudolph Contreras accepted Flynn's guilty plea and the maximum sentence is five years in prison.

Contreras said: 'There will be no trial and there will be probably no appeal.'

Flynn reportedly caved in to plead guilty in the least 24 hours after mounting emotional and financial pressure. He also wanted to do the 'right thing for his country.'

He said in a statement: 'After over thirty-three years of military service to our country including five years in combat away from my family and then my decision to continue to serve the United States, it has been extraordinarily painful to endure these many months of false accusations of treason and other outrageous acts.'

When he left court with his wife, they rushed to the Alexandria, Virginia home of his son Mike Flynn Jr and spent time with his grandson, Travis.

His son - who had been a focus of FBI interest previously for his links to Russia - tweeted a statement of thanks.

Flynn's plea shook political Washington, even as it sent Wall Street into a tailspin.

The Dow Jones industrial average briefly dropped 350 points, although it closed down only 41 points on the day.

The White House had planned a 'pool spray' of the president's meeting with Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj of Libya, but abruptly cancelled an event with cameras and reporters Friday morning.

White House lawyer Ty Cobb issued a blistering statement about Flynn who previously worked as a defense intelligence official that was first fired by President Obama only to be hired by Trump months later.

'Today, Michael Flynn, a former National Security Advisor at the White House for 25 days during the Trump Administration, and a former Obama administration official, entered a guilty plea to a single count of making a false statement to the FBI,' said Cobb.

'The false statements involved mirror the false statements to White House officials which resulted in his resignation in February of this year. Nothing about the guilty plea or the charge implicates anyone other than Mr. Flynn.,' the president's lawyer said.

THE TRUMP AIDES ALREADY FACING JAIL - SO WHO WILL MUELLER TARGET NEXT? PAUL MANAFORT Trump campaign manager March - August 2016 Manafort, 68, was charged with conspiracy against the US, conspiracy to launder, and other charges, after US intelligence agencies concluded that Russia undertook a campaign of hacking and misinformation to tilt the election in Trump's favor. He pleaded not guilty in October to a 12-count indictment by a federal grand jury. RICK GATES Business associate and deputy to Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort Gates, 45, was indicted along with his business associate, Paul Manafort after the first charges from the probe of possible Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election were unsealed. He pleaded not guilty to a 12-count indictment GEORGE PAPADOPOULOS Trump campaign foreign policy adviser, March 2016 - January 2017 Papadopoulos, 30, pleaded guilty on October 5 to making false statements to investigators about his conversations with overseas sources about potential Russian dirt on Hillary Clinton.


'The conclusion of this phase of the Special Counsel's work demonstrates again that the Special Counsel is moving with all deliberate speed and clears the way for a prompt and reasonable conclusion.'

Mueller's team has been investigating Russian interference in the U.S. elections, as well as possible obstruction of justice and other issues.

According to a statement of the offense released by Mueller's office, Flynn lied just days before Trump took office as president about his contacts with Russia's then ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak.

Flynn stated that on December 29 he 'did not ask the Government of Russia's Ambassador to the United States ('Russian Ambassador') to refrain from escalating the situation in response to sanctions that the United States had imposed against Russia that same day,' according to the feds.

That relates to the sanctions President Obama slapped on Russia shortly before leaving office for election interference.

But on December 29, Flynn called a member of Trump's presidential transition team, who was with other senior transition team members at Mar-a-Lago.

Flynn and the officials discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia, as well as 'the potential impact of those sanctions on the incoming administration’s foreign policy goals’ and that members of the transition ‘did not want Russia to escalate the situation.’

Immediately after the call, according to the statement of offense, Flynn called Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergei Kislyak and requested that Russia 'not escalate the situation.'

On December 30, just days later, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a statement stating Russia would not take retaliatory action – the preference Flynn heard about from Mar-a-Lago.

Flynn also stated that he 'did not recall the Russian Ambassador subsequently telling him that Russia had chosen to moderate its response to those sanctions as a result of his request.

Flynn also stated that in an additional instance, on December 22, 2016, he 'did not ask the Russian Ambassador to delay the vote on or defeat a pending United National Security Council resolution; and that the Russian Ambassador subsequently never described to Flynn Russia's response to his request.'

The Security Council resolution condemned Israel for new settlement activity. In a rare diplomatic break from a key ally, the Obama administration abstained from the resolution.

Trump's transition team vigorously tried to lobby against the resolution, breaking with tradition that the U.S. government speak with one diplomatic voice.

Flynn himself called foreign ambassadors of security council members, including Uruguay and Malaysia.

According to the information, Flynn made his false statements to the FBI on January 24, 2017 – just four days after Trump took office.

Flynn was 'directed' by a 'very senior' member of the transition team to reach out to foreign leaders about the UN resolution – 'including Russia' – to find out where the leaders stood.

Mueller alleges that Flynn willfully made 'false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements in a matter within the jurisdiction' of the U.S. government, including the FBI.

Lying to the FBI is a felony charge which carries a fine and up to five years in prison.

Back in March, Flynn's attorney, Robert Kellner, stated with respect to congressional investigators probing Russia that 'General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit,' implying a willingness to cooperate.

The information released by the FBI does not mention other areas reportedly under investigation – including potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Flynn filed amended reports after disclosures of work he had done on behalf of the government of Turkey.

As a critical person in Trump's campaign and national security team, Flynn was present for consequential decisions during the formative days of the administration and functioned as a main conduit for contacts with Russian officials.

He could be an essential witness for Mueller as he investigates potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.

In recent days White House lawyers have downplayed the significance of Flynn's legal troubles for the president, drawing a clear line between Flynn's personal baggage and his work on the Trump campaign and the administration.

Kushner and Flynn were both prominent figures in the Trump campaign, the presidential transition and the early days of the Trump administration.

The two also took part in discussions during the presidential transition with Kislyak about establishing a back-channel between the two countries.

That was a possible indication of prosecutors' interest given Mueller's mandate to probe contacts between Trump associates and the Kremlin.

Flynn was forced to resign from the White House in February after officials concluded that he had misled them about his contacts with Kislyak during the transition period.

Weeks before he was fired, he was interviewed by the FBI about that communication, and former FBI Director James Comey has said Flynn was under investigation for potentially lying to federal agents about the nature of their conversation.

Mueller's grand jury had planned in coming days to hear testimony from an employee of a public relations company that worked with Flynn's firm on $530,000 worth of lobbying and investigative research for a Turkish businessman.

The testimony was slated to focus on Flynn's firm's interactions with congressional staff. But it was abruptly postponed by prosecutors.

The details of Kushner's questioning and the postponement of the grand jury testimony were confirmed by people familiar with Mueller's investigation.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to publicly discuss the ongoing investigation.

Asked about the meeting with Mueller, Kushner's attorney, Abbe Lowell, did not elaborate on the nature of the question, saying only in a statement his client 'has voluntarily cooperated with all relevant inquiries and will continue to do so.'

Mueller's spokesman, Peter Carr, has yet to comment on the special counsel's ongoing investigation that has now stretched into its seventh month.