Trump’s transition team was aware Michael Flynn was under investigation before he was made national security adviser, according to a report.
President Trump’s transition team was fully aware that Michael Flynn was under investigation for his shady dealings with foreign interests before he was made national security adviser, according to a new report Wednesday.
Flynn told Trump’s team that he had been notified of a Department of Justice probe into his secret work as a paid lobbyist for Turkey during the presidential campaign, sources told the New York Times .
Flynn was still offered the job, giving him access to top U. S. intelligence, despite the information.
A separate report on Wednesday found that Flynn pushed to delay a plan to retake the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, in northern Syria, a decision that would have lined up with Turkish interests.
McClatchy’s reported that former President Obama and his national security adviser Susan Rice told then President-elect Trump of the plan, which would have included the help of Syrian Kurdish forces.
Obama’s team brought the incoming administration on board because the plan would be approved under Obama, but likely be executed after Trump took office ten days later.
Flynn told Rice to delay approving the mission. His explanation was not recorded, according to McClatchy. Turkey has been a staunch opponent of the U. S. working with Kurdish forces in the region.
The former general, who only remained in his position with the White House for 24 days, has been a lightning rod of controversy for Trump since joining his campaign in early 2016.
Vice President Pence, who headed up the transition, was notified in a November letter from the top Democrat on the House oversight committee that Flynn’s firm had lobbied on behalf of a foreign power.
Flynn was fired in February after it was revealed that he allegedly misled Pence about the nature of his conversations with Russia’s ambassador.
Sally Yates, then acting attorney general, has testified before Congress that she warned the White House that Flynn was possibly vulnerable to Russian blackmail.
A month later he filed retroactive paperwork admitting that he worked as a foreign agent representing the interests of the Turkish government in a dispute with the U. S.
In April, the Pentagon inspector general announced an investigation into whether Flynn accepted money from foreign governments without proper approval.
Flynn’s troubles coincide with a wider FBI investigation into Russia’s meddling in the presidential election and collusion with Trump associates that has picked up steam in recent weeks.
Subpoenas have been issued to businesses that worked with Flynn and his associates, according to The Times.
It also seeks similar records from Ekim Alptekin, a Turkish businessman with ties to that country’s president.
Trump has continued to defend Flynn, repeatedly calling him a “very good person.”
After Flynn left the White House, Trump attempted to get now-fired FBI director James Comey to drop the investigation, according to multiple reports.
Aside from payments from Turkey, financial disclosures filed after Flynn resigned reveal he also received payments from companies with Russian ties.
Flynn was paid $45,000 by RT in 2015 for a speech. Two other companies paid him more than $5,000, according to the documents.
