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In all the hot takes about the Flynn sentencing memo, it's helpful to step back from the docs themselves in considering the importance of Flynn's cooperation. The heavily redacted memo is short on details. But it confirms Flynn has provided extensive, and valuable, information.
Per the memo wapo.st/2QczUwB Flynn met with Mueller's office and/or DoJ some 19 times, providing evidence for the Russia investigation, an apparently unrelated criminal matter, and perhaps a third matter. Here's why Flynn's cooperation is potentially so significant:
Of all the indictments and pleas so far (Manafort, Gates, G. Papa), Flynn is the only one who had access to classified U.S. government information. As National Security Advisor, Flynn would likely have been briefed on the Intel Community's 2016 assessment of Russian interference.
As a career intelligence officer, he would have been in a position to understand the nature and significant of the intel community's sources, methods, and findings. As a member of the campaign, transition team, and administration, Flynn would have been in a position to observe
the actions of other campaign/transition insiders. More than almost anyone else, Flynn might have firsthand info about whether the actions by campaign/transition insiders aligned with the intel that the IC was almost certainly briefing Flynn on.
From this vantage point, Flynn could have seen the actions of the Trump team, know whether classified info was compromised, and even have direct conversations with RU govt officials about their reaction/ response. We don't know yet precisely what information Flynn has provided.
But Flynn's unique status as both a trusted insider, and as an authorized recipient of classified information about Russia's interference campaign, means that he's uniquely positioned to help Mueller and DoJ connect dots in the ongoing investigations.
