US security chief feels heat over Russia talks

White House looks into muddy waters over sanctions

WASHINGTON // Donald Trump’s national security adviser is facing questions about his future after reports that he discussed US sanctions with a Russian envoy before Mr Trump’s inauguration.

White House officials reviewed Michael Flynn’s contacts with the Russians and whether he discussed the possibility of lifting US sanctions on Russia once Mr Trump took office. Such a conversation could break a law banning private citizens from engaging in foreign policy.

Mr Flynn is a retired US army general and former director of the Defence Intelligence Agency. An early supporter of Mr Trump, he has been a leading advocate to improve US rela- tions with Russia. Mr Flynn had initially denied discussing sanctions with the Russians in the weeks before Mr Trump took office on January 20, and vice president Mike Pence went before television cameras to repeat the denial and defend Mr Flynn. When a Washington Post report emerged last week quoting officials saying the subject of sanctions had in fact come up, Mr Flynn left open the possibility that he had discussed sanctions but could not remember with 100 per cent certainty, an administration official said.

A second official stressed that Mr Pence made his comments based on a conversation with Mr Flynn.

Mr Pence is said to be troubled by the possibility of being misled.

Mr Flynn has apologised to Mr Pence and others.

A third official said the uproar prompted White House chief of staff Reince Priebus to review the matter with other officials as Mr Trump played host to Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe at the weekend.

There was no indication from transcripts of Mr Flynn’s conversations that he had promised to lift the sanctions but rather he made more general comments about hoping for better US-Russian relations with Mr Trump. Mr Trump has yet to weigh in on the subject, promising on Friday that he would look into it.