The president’s former national security adviser twice pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about his conversations with Russia’s ambassador.

US President Donald Trump has pardoned his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. “It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon,” Trump tweeted on Wednesday, and said he hopes his former aide had a “truly fantastic Thanksgiving”. The president’s former national security adviser twice pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about his conversations with Russia’s ambassador during a justice department inquiry into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. He later sought to withdraw his guilty plea, and the court process was continuing prior to Trump's intervention on Wednesday. Flynn is expected to be the first of several key associates of Trump pardoned before he leaves the White House on 20 January. Adam Schiff, the Democratic chair of the House intelligence committee, wrote on Twitter: "Donald Trump has repeatedly abused the pardon power to reward friends and protect those who covered up for him. "This time he pardons Michael Flynn, who lied to hide his dealings with the Russians. It’s no surprise that Trump would go out as he came in — Crooked to the end."