National security adviser Michael Flynn discussed sanctions with Russian Envoy

Posted on February 10, 2017 by SouthernGirl2

michael-flynnNational security adviser Michael Flynn privately discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia with that country’s ambassador to the United States during the month before President Trump took office, contrary to public assertions by Trump officials, current and former U.S. officials said.

Flynn’s communications with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak were interpreted by some senior U.S. officials as an inappropriate and potentially illegal signal to the Kremlin that it could expect a reprieve from sanctions that were being imposed by the Obama administration in late December to punish Russia for its alleged interference in the 2016 election.

Flynn on Wednesday denied that he had discussed sanctions with Kislyak. Asked in an interview whether he had ever done so, he twice said, “No.”

On Thursday, Flynn, through his spokesman, backed away from the denial. The spokesman said Flynn “indicated that while he had no recollection of discussing sanctions, he couldn’t be certain that the topic never came up.”

Officials said this week that the FBI is continuing to examine Flynn’s communications with Kislyak. Several officials emphasized that while sanctions were discussed, they did not see evidence that Flynn had an intent to convey an explicit promise to take action after the inauguration.

Flynn’s contacts with the ambassador attracted attention within the Obama administration because of the timing. U.S. intelligence agencies were then concluding that Russia had waged a cyber campaign designed in part to help elect Trump; his senior adviser on national security matters was discussing the potential consequences for Moscow, officials said.

The talks were part of a series of contacts between Flynn and Kislyak that began before the Nov. 8 election and continued during the transition, officials said. In a recent interview, Kislyak confirmed that he had communicated with Flynn by text message, by phone and in person, but declined to say whether they had discussed sanctions.

The emerging details contradict public statements by incoming senior administration officials including Mike Pence, then the vice president-elect. They acknowledged only a handful of text messages and calls exchanged between Flynn and Kislyak late last year and denied that either ever raised the subject of sanctions.

“They did not discuss anything having to do with the United States’ decision to expel diplomats or impose censure against Russia,” Pence said in an interview with CBS News last month, noting that he had spoken with Flynn about the matter. Pence also made a more sweeping assertion, saying there had been no contact between members of Trump’s team and Russia during the campaign. To suggest otherwise, he said, “is to give credence to some of these bizarre rumors that have swirled around the candidacy.”

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48 Responses to National security adviser Michael Flynn discussed sanctions with Russian Envoy

  1. SouthernGirl2 says:
    February 13, 2017 at 10:09 pm

    BREAKING NEWS

    National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has resigned.

    Reply
  9. Ametia says:
    February 12, 2017 at 11:29 am
    Reply
  15. Ametia says:
    February 10, 2017 at 3:05 pm
    Reply
  16. Ametia says:
    February 10, 2017 at 2:58 pm

    Six stunning aspects of the Flynn scandal
    By Jennifer Rubin
    February 10 at 11:00 AM

    From The Post’s blockbuster story Thursday night, we learned:

    National security adviser Michael Flynn privately discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia with that country’s ambassador to the United States during the month before President Trump took office, contrary to public assertions by Trump officials, current and former U.S. officials said.

    Flynn’s communications with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak were interpreted by some senior U.S. officials as an inappropriate and potentially illegal signal to the Kremlin that it could expect a reprieve from sanctions that were being imposed by the Obama administration in late December to punish Russia for its alleged interference in the 2016 election.

    Flynn on Wednesday denied that he had discussed sanctions with Kislyak. Asked in an interview whether he had ever done so, he twice said, “No.”

    On Thursday, Flynn, through his spokesman, backed away from the denial. The spokesman said Flynn “indicated that while he had no recollection of discussing sanctions, he couldn’t be certain that the topic never came up.”

    The story is shocking and potentially fatal to Flynn’s success in the role for no less than six reasons.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2017/02/10/six-stunning-aspects-of-the-flynn-scandal/?utm_term=.77ee379651a5&wpisrc=nl_popns&wpmm=1

    Reply
  19. SouthernGirl2 says:
    February 10, 2017 at 2:25 pm

    Breaking: Trump adviser Flynn told Pence he hadn’t talked sanctions with Russian Ambassador.

    ******************
    They’re covering for Mike Pence ASS

    Shorter Pence: I was just going by what Mike Flynn told me. I oin’t know nothing bout nothing.

    Reply
  20. Ametia says:
    February 10, 2017 at 1:53 pm

    Meanwhile, #45 is still tweeting about Nordstrom & his grifting daughter, screaming in all CAPS, like a 4 year old, who doesn’t get his way.

    INCOMPETENCE, SCANDAL, CORRUPTION, RUSSIAN HACKS, INSULTING MEDIA, WORLD LEADERS, MEDIOCRE STAFF, WAR-MONGERING.

    IMPEACH#45!!!

    Reply
  28. Ametia says:
    February 10, 2017 at 11:33 am

    The Mysterious Disappearance of the Biggest Scandal in Washington

    Whatever happened to the Trump-Russia story?

    The biggest election-related scandal since Watergate occurred last year, and it has largely disappeared from the political-media landscape of Washington.

    According to the consensus assessment of US intelligence agencies, Russian intelligence, under the orders of Vladimir Putin, mounted an extensive operation to influence the 2016 campaign to benefit Donald Trump. This was a widespread covert campaign that included hacking Democratic targets and publishing swiped emails via WikiLeaks. And it achieved its objectives. But the nation’s capital remains under-outraged by this subversion. The congressional intelligence committees announced last month that they will investigate the Russian hacking and also examine whether there were any improper contacts between the Trump camp and Russia during the campaign. (A series of memos attributed to a former British counterintelligence officer included allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.) Yet these behind-closed-doors inquiries have generated minimum media notice, and, overall, there has not been much outcry.

    http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/02/russia-trump-putin-scandal-media

    Reply
  30. Ametia says:
    February 10, 2017 at 11:31 am

    #45 & his comrades are RIDDLED with deceit, scandal, trickery, lies!

    IMPEACH #45

    Reply
  35. Ametia says:
    February 10, 2017 at 7:40 am

    TREACHEROUS CROOKS & LIARS

    Reply
  36. rikyrah says:
    February 10, 2017 at 6:00 am

    TREASON

    Reply
  43. SouthernGirl2 says:
    February 10, 2017 at 1:18 am

    Did you deny Flynn discussed sanctions with Russian officials @VP? uh oh!

    https://twitter.com/RVAwonk/status/829889297721475072

    Reply

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