Russian President Vladimir Putin said he \u00ab\u00a0didn’t really talk to\u00a0\u00bb former U. S. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn during a dinner together last December.<\/b>
\nJune 4 (UPI) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said he \u00ab\u00a0didn’t really talk to\u00a0\u00bb former U. S. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn during a dinner together last December.
The two sat next to each other during an event to celebrate Russia’s RT network.
\u00ab\u00a0When I came to the event for our company, Russia Today, and sat down at the table, next to me there was a gentleman sitting on one side, \u00a0\u00bb Putin said during an exclusive interview with NBC’s Megyn Kelly for a Sunday night broadcast. \u00ab\u00a0I made my speech. Then we talked about some other stuff. And I got up and left. And then afterwards I was told, ‘You know there was an American gentleman. He was involved in some things. He used to be in the security services’ … that’s it. I didn’t even really talk to him… That’s the extent of my acquaintance with Mr. Flynn.\u00a0\u00bb
Flynn was paid $45,000 to speak at the event and was in the \u00ab\u00a0seat of honor\u00a0\u00bb next to the Russian president.
In August 2016, Flynn said that he did not ask to sit next to Putin and wasn’t concerned about how it looked with him sitting next to the Russian leader. \u00ab\u00a0I was one of the guests there, \u00a0\u00bb he said. \u00ab\u00a0Some interesting characters. I found it a great learning opportunity. One of the things I learned was that Putin has no respect for the United States leadership. Not for the United States, but the leadership.\u00a0\u00bb
But Michael McFaul, U. S. ambassador in Moscow from 2012 to 2014 and now an NBC News analyst, said in April: \u00ab\u00a0It is not coincidence that Flynn was placed next to President Putin. Flynn was considered a close Trump adviser. Why else would they want him there?\u00a0\u00bb
Flynn, a retired general, served as an adviser to Donald Trump ‘s presidential campaign and was Trump’s national security adviser in the White House for less than a month. He was fired for what the administration said was lying about his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence.
Senior U. S. intelligence officials have also told NBC News that Putin was personally involved in the Russian effort to interfere with the U. S. election and how the information was used.
In the interview, Putin claimed that \u00ab\u00a0a child\u00a0\u00bb could have hacked the U. S. election and also alleged Russia may have been framed.
In excerpts released Friday, Putin said, that Internet protocol \u00ab\u00a0addresses can be invented — a child can do that. Your underage daughter could do that. That is not proof.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

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