I think the government (and the press) create so much fear that even the innocent know they’ll be found guilty of something and are trying to protect themselves by any means. And then they get convicted for “lying” about something innocent because they’re so afraid.
I’m no big fan of Flynn, but at the same time, I think we should say that this whole process is worse than medieaval, and in fact is unAmerican and should be found to violate the Constitutional provisions intended to protect against Star Chambers and similar politically motivated proceedings.
For Flynn to have pled guilty to lying, something he could have fought. Its likely that he fears a much larger crime. So what crime did he do? We should be able to deduce that at least two people are suspected of crimes. And that Flynn feels he can be convicted. But someone else maybe just Manafort. And maybe a family member to Trump. Or it could be someone still inside the government in the CIA or Military.