Ex-national security consultant Michael Flynn has conceded to putting forth false expressions to the FBI about gatherings with Russia's envoy weeks before Donald Trump progressed toward becoming president.
The charges were brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, as a feature of his investigation into affirmed Russian intruding in the 2016 US race.
Mr Flynn is the most senior individual from the organization to be prosecuted.
He additionally uncovered he was co-working with Mr Mueller's request.
Essentially, an announcement made by Mr Flynn to prosecutors seems to ensnare a more senior, however anonymous, Trump group official - showing the bearing in which Mr Mueller's examination might head.
Various US media outlets said the senior authority now under the spotlight is Jared Kushner - Mr Trump's counselor and child in-law.
Showing up in a government court in Washington DC, he admitted to one check of intentionally putting forth "false, invented and deceitful expressions".
As per an AFP columnist in court, the judge acknowledged Mr Flynn's blameworthy supplication and said he would not confront trial.
Mr Flynn then issued an announcement in which he stated: "I perceive that the activities I recognized in court today weren't right and, through my confidence in God, I am attempting to set things right".
He said his request and co-operation bargain "mirror a choice I made to the greatest advantage of my family and of our nation". The resigned Army lieutenant-general is probably not going to serve over a half year in jail.
The White House issued an announcement saying that "nothing about the liable request or the charge embroils anybody other than Mr Flynn". A presidential appearance before columnists was then scratched off.
As he was escorted from court by FBI operators, a modest bunch of nonconformists yelled "criminal" and "bolt him up", reverberating a serenade he drove against Hillary Clinton amid the Republican party tradition a year ago.
What are the charges?
Mr Flynn was compelled to leave 23 days into his activity in February, a month after he was addressed by the FBI for deceiving the White House about meeting then Russian envoy Sergei Kislyak amid the change time frame, before Mr Trump took office.
At that point, a little more than seven days back, US media said his legitimate group had told the president's legal counselors they could never again examine the case, inciting proposals that he had started co-working with prosecutors.
It isn't clear why he didn't come clean to agents. Be that as it may, it is illicit for a private US resident, as Mr Flynn was amid the progress, to direct outside undertakings without the authorization or inclusion of the US government.
As indicated by the charge sheet, Michael Flynn is blamed for:
dishonestly revealing to FBI operators that approximately 29 December 2016 he didn't request that Mr Kislyak "forgo heightening the circumstance because of approvals that the United States had forced against Russia that same day"
neglecting to review that Mr Kislyak had later revealed to him Russia was directing its reaction to the authorizations because of his demand
dishonestly saying that, approximately 22 December 2016, he didn't request that Mr Kislyak "defer the vote on or crush a pending United Nations Security Council determination". The discourse came a day prior to the Obama organization chose not to veto a determination affirming that Israeli settlements on possessed Palestinian domain "had no legitimate legitimacy"
putting forth false expressions about the Turkish government's inclusion and supervision of a venture that his knowledge organization was partaking in.
Mr Flynn isn't the main previous Trump authority to be charged.
In October, Mr Trump's previous battle chief, Paul Manafort, and his business relate Rick Gates were blamed for scheming to dupe the US in dealings with Ukraine (both deny the charges). Another ex-helper, George Papadopoulos, has additionally conceded to putting forth false expressions to FBI specialists
How harming is this for President Trump?
By Anthony Zurcher, BBC News North America correspondent
Michael Flynn lost his prized national security guide post on account of December 2016 discussions he had with Sergei Kislyak. Presently he's confronting criminal accusations.
That is awful news for Mr Flynn, however it could be surprisingly more dreadful news for Donald Trump, who purportedly specifically campaigned previous FBI Director James Comey to back off the Flynn examination under the watchful eye of terminating the best law man.
Mr Flynn has disclosed to Robert Mueller's group that he talked with Trump presidential change authorities prior and then afterward connecting with Mr Kislyak, and was told on the most proficient method to deal with the call. This negates open statements made by the president himself that Mr Flynn was working autonomously and against orders.
On the off chance that the previous national security counselor has confirm that certifies his cases, it would be the greatest stunner yet in this colossal examination.
It's unmistakable the extraordinary advice examination is throwing a wide net, and Mr Mueller simply handled his greatest fish yet.
As a component of his request deal, Michael Flynn has marked an "announcement of the offense" that gives us a course of events of the times of presidential progress in late December 2016, preceding Donald Trump was confirmed on 20 January 2017.
This is the thing that government prosecutors charge happened:
22 December: An "extremely senior" Trump change group official discloses to Michael Flynn to contact outside governments including Russia to examine a pending UN Security Council vote on Israeli settlements
22-23 December: Mr Flynn desires Sergei Kislyak to vote against or postpone the determination; the following day Mr Kislyak says Russia would not vote against such a determination
28 December: Mr Kislyak contacts Mr Flynn - on the day President Obama reports sanctions against Russia for meddling in the presidential race
29 December: Mr Flynn contacts "a senior authority" in the Trump change group at Mar-a-Lago in Florida to talk about a reaction. He "promptly" gets back to the minister, asking Russia not to raise the circumstance, at that point gets back in contact with the Trump progress official
30 December: Russian President Vladimir Putin declares no prompt striking back will occur
31 December: Mr Kislyak calls Mr Flynn to advise him of Russia's position, and Mr Flynn contacts the Trump change group.