The Michael Flynn saga represents perhaps the greatest damage the FBI has done to itself and its reputation since the extent of J. Edgar Hoover’s abuses became public. Regardless of how Judge Emmet Sullivan rules given Flynn’s previous guilty plea, every official questioned in the future by the FBI will either assume the FBI is on a political witch hunt or will use the Flynn case as an excuse to sully legitimate investigations. But just because the FBI’s case against Flynn was tainted from the beginning, if not fraudulent, does not absolve Flynn of tremendous lapses of judgment. Flynn’s vindication in court should not erase a track record of destructive positions in the face of U.S. adversaries.

As a general, Flynn excelled in the fight against al Qaeda. He held a number of intelligence posts, including director of intelligence of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan from June 2009 to October 2010. President Barack Obama nominated Flynn to be director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in April 2012, and he took the helm that summer, ultimately serving two years. His clashes with senior Obama administration officials ultimately led to his unceremonious dismissal and the start of a grudge match still being played out by both. The rest is history.