Flynn resignation may show US turning anti-Russian

MOSCOW — A senior Russian lawmaker said on Tuesday the resignation of US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Flynn, suggested Mr. Trump had been backed into a corner or that his administration had been “infected” by antiRussian feeling.

Mr. Flynn resigned late on Monday after revelations he had discussed US sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Mr. Trump took office and misled Vice-President Mike Pence about the conversations.

“Either Trump has not gained the requisite independence and he is consequently being not unsuccessfully backed into a corner, or Russophobia has already infected the new administration also from top to bottom,” MP Konstantin Kosachev was cited as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.

Mr. Kosachev is head of the upper house of parliament’s international affairs committee.

Mr. Flynn’s resignation came late Monday after a day of speculation about his future, especially after the White House said Mr. Trump was “evaluating” his contacts with the Russian government.

The top aide — whose past encounters with Russian President Vladimir Putin have already drawn criticism — was accused of discussing the Obama administration’s election- hacking- related sanctions with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

Mr. Flynn initially claimed he did not discuss sanctions, prompting Mr. Pence to publicly come to his defense.

But Mr. Flynn later admitted that he “inadvertently briefed” Mr. Pence with “incomplete information” about his calls with Mr. Kislyak.

Mr. Trump named retired lieutenant general Joseph Kellogg, who was serving as a director on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to be interim national security advisor. — Reuters and AFP