Letter: Former security adviser was paid by Russian-linked firms

— Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, was paid over $65,000 by companies linked to Russia in 2015, according to a letter released Thursday by congressional investigators.

Among the companies was a cargo airline implicated in a bribery scheme involving Russian officials at the United Nations, an American branch of a cybersecurity firm believed to have ties to Russia’s intelligence services, and RT, the Russian government’s English language television channel, according to the letter, which was sent to Trump on Thursday by Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland. Cummings is the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

The document provides new details about Flynn’s ties to Russian entities just over a month after he was forced to resign following revelations that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top White House officials about his conversations last year with the Russian ambassador to the U.S.

The letter — addressed to Trump, James B. Comey, the director of the FBI, and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis — requested additional documents related to Flynn’s security clearances.

The fees were apparently for speaking engagements by Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general and former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency.