All the judge did was try to help keep the story alive. If he sentences him the story is over. He gets little or no jail time and there is no there there. This way the narrative can continue.
From the FBI 302 written 1/24/2017 -
https://www.lawfareblog.com/document-special-counsel-releases-flynn-302
On whether he spoke to Kislyak on expulsions of Russian diplomats- “not really. I don’t remember.”
On whether Kislyak told Flynn Russia had changed their position on response to sanctions because of the position of the incoming administration, Flynn said
“it was possible that he talked to Kislyak on the issue, but he did not remember”.
Assuming we knew the actual words on the intercepted phone call between Flynn and Kislyak - and that the words were translated from Russian to English and back without any change in nuance - and that he did discuss sanctions on the recorded call - Flynn DID NOT LIE about his conversation with Kislyak because he repeatedly said “I don’t remember” and that it was “possible” that he did discuss sanctions with Kislyak. The only possible lie would pertain to the conversation about voting down the resolution to condemn Israel, which has nothing to do with Russian collusion. Flynn, if he lied about that, would have no motive to do so, because there is nothing politically embarrassing about trying to convince other countries not to condemn Israel. So what Sullivan is seeing is that Flynn is pleading guilty to a crime he obviously did not commit. Mueller wants Flynn to pead guilty to lying about whether he discussed sanctions with Kislyak BECAUSE IT SUPPORTS THE PHONY RUSSIA COLLUSION NARRATIVE. That’s why Sullivan doesn’t want to sentence him - he knows Flynn is innocent, the 302 transcript proves it. Sullivan wants to wait until the FARA charges against Flynn associates are settled, and if Flynn is not also charged before his associates’ cases are settled, apparently this limits the government’s ability to charge him. So after those charges are settled Flynn’s charges will be dismissed and he will win game set and match - for Flynn and of course DJT.