Flynn business partner wants trial delayed to September or later

Source: Politico


By JOSH GERSTEIN 01/23/2019 06:33 AM EST

A request from National Security Adviser Michael Flynn’s one-time business partner Bijan Rafiekian for a delay of seven months or more in his trial on charges of acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Turkey could have ripple effects for Flynn and for Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s ability to wrap up his investigation.

On Tuesday, a federal judge in Alexandria, Virginia, scuttled a February trial date for Rafiekian. Soon thereafter, Rafiekian’s lawyers filed a formal motion asking that the trial be put off until September or later.

The request could complicate or delay Flynn’s sentencing on a felony charge of making false statements to the FBI while he was serving in the White House. A judge delayed the sentencing last month in order to take stock of Flynn cooperation in his business partner’s case.

Both sides in Flynn’s case are scheduled to report in writing to the judge by March 13, but it seems highly unlikely that Rafiekian’s trial will be underway or even imminent by that time.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/23/michael-flynn-trial-delay-1120096