Michael Flynn asks to be spared from prison because he helped Mueller

Michael T. Flynn, in happier times.

Ret. Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn is asking for no prison time.

A memo from the former Trump national security chief's legal defense team was filed tonight, just before his scheduled sentencing.

They're asking a federal judge to spare Flynn from prison time, Flynn offers to do 200 hours of community service, and they want less than a year's worth of probation with minimal supervision, all in response to the government's sentencing memo.

HERE IS A COPY OF MICHAEL FLYNN'S 'DEFENDANT'S MEMORANDUM IN AID OF SENTENCING.'

In the memo (courtesy of CNN) Flynn says his cooperation with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation "was not grudging or delayed.

"Rather, it preceded his guilty plea or any threatened indictment and began very shortly after he was first contacted for assistance by the Special Counsel's Office," wrote his team.

We know from other recent court filings that Flynn met with federal investigators 19 times, and spoke to them for more than 62 hours.

The court filing was made available on Tuesday night, and includes references from multiple retired military officials, including General Jack Keane.