Previously, the FBI had opened an investigation of Flynn based on his relationship with the Russian government. "It was an absolute surprise when the Mueller report came out," Flynn's brother Joe told Fox News. "Deputy Director [Andrew] McCabe stated that, 'We really had not substantiated anything particularly significant against General Flynn,' but did not recall that a closure of the CI investigation was imminent." Flynn's brother said the passage backed up the family's long-held concerns. It's not publicly known when the earlier Flynn investigation began.

Source: Fox News May 17, 2019 14:48 UTC