Top Trump aide Flynn resigns over Russia contacts

UNPRECEDENTED: Flynn admitted that he ‘inadvertently briefed’ Pence with ‘incomplete information’ about his calls with Russian envoy

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump’s national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned after it was revealed he misled top officials over his contacts with Russia, an unprecedented departure so early into a US president’s administration.

The White House late on Monday said Trump had accepted Flynn’s resignation amid allegations the retired three star general discussed US sanctions strategy with Russia’s ambassador Sergey Kislyak before taking office.

Flynn — who once headed US military intelligence — insisted he was honoured to have served the American people in such a “distinguished” manner, despite the Trump presidency being less than a month old.

Flynn admitted that he “inadvertently briefed” the now Vice-President Mike Pence with “incomplete information” about his calls with Kislyak.

Pence had publicly defended Flynn, saying he did not discuss sanctions, putting his own credibility into question.

“Regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologised to the president and the vice-president, and they have accepted my apology,” read Flynn’s letter, a copy of which was released by the White House.

Flynn’s resignation came after details of the telephone calls were made public — increasing pressure on Trump to take action.

Several US media outlets reported on Monday that top Trump advisers were warned about Flynn’s contacts with the Russians early this year, reopening questions about who knew about the calls and why Trump did not move earlier to replace Flynn.

The resignation will also fuel calls for an independent investigation into Russia’s influence during the 2016 US presidential election and throws into doubt the fledgling effort from Trump to establish ties with President Vladimir Putin.

On Monday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer insisted Trump was not consulted about Flynn, a former head of defence intelligence, discussing sanctions, nor did he task the retired general to do so.

The Justice Department had warned the White House that Flynn had misled senior administration officials about the contents of his talks with Kislyak, and that it could make him vulnerable to Russian blackmail, US media reported.

The message was delivered in the last days Barack Obama’s administration by then-acting attorney-general Sally Yates — who Trump sacked after she instructed government lawyers not to defend the new president’s controversial travel ban.

Contenders: A senior naval officer who served under President Donald Trump’s Defence Secretary James Mattis is the leading candidate to replace Michael Flynn after the national security adviser resigned under pressure over his conversations with a Russian diplomat, two US officials said on Tuesday.

Vice Admiral Robert Harward, who was deputy commander of US Central Command under Mattis, will likely replace Flynn, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the White House scrambled to contain the fallout from the abrupt departure of one of the president’s top advisers. of