She wansn’t outsmarted or outgunned. She got the DOJ to admit to all the dirty sh*t they did to the guy. The DC Appeals courts sided with her. Sullivan used the power of the bench to do what he wanted, knowing that he wasn’t going to be held accountable. In a courtroom, unless a higher court steps in, the judge holds all the cards.
Everyone wanted Flynn released, Sullivan didn’t. All he had to do was delay this and that. Which he did.
The pardon was given because Sullivan would just delay the case until an new AG could be sworn in and they would put Gen Flynn in prison. Regardless of the evidence.
One thing to add: Sullivan is a puppet, he was doing what his masters told him to do. The evil is deep and insidious in DC.