Judge signals he won't immediately dismiss Michael Flynn case

Tuesday's development keeps the case alive in a way that could create even more fireworks and potentially allow people with "unique information or perspective" or other reasons to speak up, such as Mueller's former office and former Justice Department leadership, if they wanted.

CNN legal analyst Elie Honig, a former prosecutor-turned-defense lawyer in New York, said that to him, the order signaled Sullivan "has real questions and is not ready to sign onto a dismissal. It is a very unusual step for a district judge."

Flynn's legal team pushed back almost immediately, arguing against any delay and that Sullivan has no choice but to dismiss the case.

"This travesty of justice has already consumed three or more years of an innocent man's life -- and that of his entire family," Flynn's lawyers wrote. "No further delay should be tolerated or any further expense caused to him and his defense."

Flynn's defense lawyers acknowledged that former Watergate prosecutors had sought to be heard in the case.

"There are countless people -- including former prosecutors on both sides of the parties -- who would like to express their views," Flynn's lawyers wrote, "but there are many reasons there is no provision for outsiders to join a criminal case in this Court."

Sullivan previously accepted Flynn's sworn admission that he was guilty of lying to the FBI. The judge has been unpredictable and harsh toward Flynn for misleading the administration and the FBI while serving as Trump's first national security adviser. After almost two years cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller and other federal investigations following his guilty plea, Flynn claimed he had been set up by prosecutors and tried to get out of the conviction as his sentencing neared.

Political appointees under Barr revealed last week they were convinced by internal FBI documents that Flynn shouldn't face a criminal charge because he shouldn't have been investigated.

Several key former Justice Department officials have complained in newspaper op-eds and open letters about the move to dismiss the charge against Flynn. They have alleged Barr was dropping the case for political reasons, so the President and his supporters could undercut the Russia investigation in an election year. Many attacked the DC US Attorney's legal brief arguing to dismiss the case, because of what they called twisted, thin or too-defense-friendly reasoning.

Barr has said there was no political influence in the decision and said the case was dropped because the lies that Flynn was prosecuted for telling investigators weren't actually "material" or influential to an investigation.

"A crime cannot be established here. They did not have a basis for a counterintelligence investigation against Flynn at that stage," Barr said in an interview last week with CBS News, referring to the FBI.

"Given the current posture of this case, the Court anticipates that individuals and organizations will seek leave of the Court to file amicus curiae brief," Sullivan wrote on Tuesday.

It is not yet clear if Sullivan will allow briefs from former prosecutors, or witnesses like former DOJ national security head Mary McCord and former acting Attorney General Sally Yates, whose recounting of events the Justice Department had relied upon in their brief. McCord wrote on Sunday her statements to investigators had been misconstrued.

Sullivan said he will give more guidance on how third parties can submit their briefs to the court about the case "at the appropriate time." Two filings came into the case this week from unknown parties under seal, according to the court record.