Judge tells Flynn he can't 'hide my disgust' at his crime

In a stinging rebuke, a federal judge lashed out at President Donald Trump's first national security adviser Michael Flynn during his sentencing hearing Tuesday, saying "I can't hide my disgust, my disdain" at his crime of lying to the FBI.

"Arguably you sold your country out," US District Judge Emmet Sullivan told Flynn in a tongue-lashing that raised the prospect that the judge could send the retired Army lieutenant general to prison, even though prosecutors have recommended against prison time, citing his cooperation in the Russia probe.

Flynn, who served as national security adviser for only a few weeks, is to be the first White House official sentenced in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign.

The hearing is taking place amid escalating legal peril for Trump, who was implicated by federal prosecutors in New York this month in hush-money payments to cover up extramarital affairs. Nearly a half-dozen former aides and advisers including Flynn have pleaded guilty or agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

Trump signaled his intense interest in the case by tweeting "good luck" to Flynn hours before the sentencing.

He added: "Will be interesting to see what he has to say, despite tremendous pressure being put on him, about Russian Collusion in our great and, obviously, highly successful political campaign. There was no Collusion!"