Layers of the story. The general public can't even understand one or two layers, let alone make it all the way down the list. Here is a possible scenario that explains a lot of the anomalies in the Flynn case:
Flynn "lies" to FBI / Pence.
POTUS fires Flynn for lying.
Flynn stupidly (?) pleaded guilty to the crime of perjury even though he had a strong defence that he did not perjure himself (ostensibly to protect his son from a different fake prosecution?).
FBI notes reveal collusion to "get Flynn to lie" which is evidence of an FBI plot to bring down Trump (by associating him with "bad actors" like Flynn).
So Flynn is apparently innocent and wrongfully targeted, as POTUS underlines for us.
But Flynn is in on it from the start. As in he was in on it with the bad guys. He's not a patriot. He was an actor. How do you "get someone to lie"? Easy if that someone is part of the con, and will go along with the con. Also known as a "ringer."
They never thought all the notes would be revealed, exposing their treasonous plan.
POTUS now heralds Flynn as heroic patriot wrongfully accused.
What is the Cabal supposed to do once their plot is exposed – admit even more crimes by saying, "wait a minute, Flynn was in on it!" They can't. No one can say it. Flynn can't say it. He would be hanged for treason. The Cabal can't say it, because it would reveal even more layers of the conspiracy, and lead to more questions, which only leads to even more questions. And Trump can't say it, because it doesn't suit him to say it. Not now. Maybe not ever. Because the people barely understand what's going on to begin with, let alone by introducing a nother layer of the deception by revealing that Flynn was part of the con.
The next question would be, when did Trump know that Flynn was in on the con. The answer has to be, from the very beginning. Which leads to the question, why would Trump invite compromised traitors into his administration? You see how this just makes for a more and more intricate web, and it's too much for people to cope with.
So you outplay your enemy, and go along with PART of the fraud, which is the fraud that Flynn was an innocent patriot.
That's my analysis at this point. When Trump is asked if Flynn would be invited back into the administration, he says he'd "consider it." Trump also lumps Flynn in with that other wrongfully accused "patriot" Roger Stone, even while every anon knows that Stone is compromised [MOS].
Trump outplays them again, declaring Flynn a patriot (for now) and the Cabal looks like they used an innocent man to bring down a duly elected president (when in fact Flynn worked with the Cabal to bring down a duly elected president from the inside).
Ask the question, and the whole sweater unravels. If Flynn was compromised from the outset, who else was planted within Trump's circle to try to bring him down? How about Pence? Do you really think the American people could wrap their head around the fact that their Vice President is also comped and Trump knows it but has to play the game in order to win this war?