Judge orders Mueller to release important memo on the eve of sentencing for Mike Flynn

A judge ordered that special counsel Robert Mueller release Monday a redacted version of a memo in the case against Gen. Mike Flynn, the former national security adviser to President Donald Trump.

The memo was written after two FBI agents, including Peter Strzok, had interviewed Flynn in January 2017 over his interactions with Russian officials.

According to prosecutors, it was in this interview that Flynn lied to the FBI about those interactions.

Flynn has admitted to lying and is cooperating with prosecutors. Mueller recommended that his sentencing take into account that he is cooperating and providing "substantial assistance."

CNN's Jim Sciutto saw the memo release as a bad sign for Flynn, who is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday.

"This memo documents willful lies," Sciutto tweeted. He cited a portion of the interview where Flynn tells FBI agents that he did not try to "influence Russia's vote on a UN vote on Israeli settlements."

"But charging documents filed last year show FBI knew he had asked Russia to vote against or delay the resolution," Sciutto explained.

"This FBI memo effectively buries the "perjury trap" defense for Michael Flynn," Sciutto explained in a further tweet.

"He twice lied about conversations with the Russian ambassador regarding issues he knew were important: urging Russia not to retaliate for US sanctions & urging it to block UN resolution on Israel."

However, neither of those issues appear to have any direction connection to the alleged collusion between the Russian government and the Trump campaign, as his opponents have contended.

Trump has tweeted sympathy for Flynn while denying that there was anything to hide, or any wrongdoing.

"He has pled guilty to those lies," the president added. "It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!"

Here's the CNN report on the release of the Flynn memo: