The U.S. Department of Justice settled Wednesday with former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, agreeing to pay approximately $1.2 million to resolve his lawsuit alleging wrongful prosecution.

Flynn filed the suit in 2023, seeking damages over what he argued was a politically motivated case brought against him during the Russia investigation. He pointed to alleged FBI misconduct and bias, claiming he was unfairly targeted because of his role in President Donald Trump’s campaign and administration.

The case originated from Flynn’s 2017 guilty plea to making false statements to the FBI regarding conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Flynn later withdrew that plea, maintaining that he had been entrapped and that key details were withheld by investigators.

In 2020, the Justice Department under then-Attorney General William Barr moved to dismiss the case, citing serious concerns with how the FBI conducted the investigation. President Trump later granted Flynn a pardon.

Although a federal judge initially dismissed Flynn’s civil suit in 2024, the case was allowed to move forward after refiling. Settlement discussions accelerated following the return of the Trump administration, with Attorney General Pam Bondi overseeing a shift in the DOJ’s position.

While the final settlement amount is significantly lower than the $50 million Flynn originally sought, the agreement represents a formal acknowledgment of wrongdoing by the government. A DOJ spokesperson described the resolution as “an important step in redressing” what the department called a “historic injustice,” and pledged continued efforts to prevent political “weaponization” of federal law enforcement.

The settlement also avoids a prolonged legal battle that could have further exposed internal deliberations from the Russia probe, including FBI notes suggesting agents debated how to approach Flynn during questioning.

Democrats criticized the agreement, with Sen. Mark Warner calling it inappropriate, but supporters argue the outcome reinforces concerns that the original investigation was flawed and unfairly pursued.