Michael Flynn's lawyers 'stop liaising with Donald Trump's team' - sparking speculation of plea deal

Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s short-lived national security adviser, has stopped sharing information with the president’s legal team, it has been reported – giving rise to speculation that Mr Flynn could be preparing a plea deal with Robert Mueller.

Mr Mueller is investigation Russian interference in the US election, and whether there was any collusion between Mr Trump’s campaign and operatives from Moscow.

Two people – Paul Manafort, the former campaign chairman, and Rick Gates, Mr Manafort’s right-hand man and a senior aide to the Trump campaign – have already been charged in connection with Mr Mueller’s investigation.

The pair were indicted at the end of last month on charges including money laundering and conspiracy against the United States, and both pleaded not guilty.

Mr Flynn, who was fired by Barack Obama and who Mr Obama subsequently warned Mr Trump against hiring, was long speculated to be in Mr Mueller’s line of sight.

The New York Times said that four separate sources told them Mr Flynn’s lawyers have informed Mr Trump’s team that they can no longer share information.

Defence lawyers frequently share information during investigations, but they must stop when doing so would pose a conflict of interest.

It is unethical for lawyers to work together when one client is cooperating with prosecutors and another is still under investigation.

The move by Mr Flynn’s lawyers is not seen as proof that Mr Flynn is cooperating with Mr Mueller – but Mr Trump’s lawyers are reported to believe that Mr Flynn has, at least, begun discussions with Mr Mueller about cooperating.

Mr Flynn served as national security adviser from Mr Trump’s January 20 inauguration until February 13, when he was forced to resign and admit lying to Mike Pence, the vice president, over his meetings with the then-Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

Mr Flynn has a long history of dealings with Moscow, and was famously seated at Vladimir Putin’s table during a December 2015 dinner.