Dems demand answers after Flynn-Russia report
WASHINGTON — Democrats on the House intelligence committee demanded Friday that President Donald Trump address a report that his national security adviser, retired Gen. Michael Flynn, discussed U. S. sanctions against Russia with that country’s ambassador in December, before Trump took office.
The FBI has been examining Flynn’s contacts with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, according to reports.
At issue is whether Flynn tried to undermine the Obama administration’s move to toughen sanctions against Moscow after concluding that Russia had meddled in the U.S. election.
A Washington Post account, citing nine current or former U.S. officials, contradicted Flynn’s repeated public assertions that he had not discussed sanctions with Kislyak.
Putin ready to meet with Trump
MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin thanked Slovenia on Friday for offering to host his first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, but added that the prospect hinges on Washington. The Russian leader hailed Slovenia, where Trump’s wife Melania was born and grew up, as an “excellent” venue for possible talks.
“It depends not only on us, but we are naturally ready for it,” he said.
A representative for Flynn on Thursday backed away from those statements, telling the Post that while Flynn “had no recollection of discussing sanctions, he couldn’t be certain that the topic never came up.”
Vice President Mike Pence had repeated Flynn’s denials in a television interview, and after the Post published its account, a White House official pointedly told the paper that Pence had made his statements based on what Flynn had told him.
Flynn spoke privately with Pence on Friday in an apparent attempt to contain the fallout, an administration official said.
Earlier, Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee, said Flynn should be fired if he did warn Kislyak.
“The allegation raises serious questions of legality and fitness for office,” Schiff, D-Calif., said in a statement.
Rep. Eric Swalwell of California, the ranking Democrat on the panel’s CIA subcommittee, said Flynn should be suspended until the allegations are investigated.
Flynn’s contacts with Kislyak may not have broken any laws. Retired Gen. Michael Flynn, national security adviser to President Donald Trump, talked with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in December, according to reports.
The relevant one, the Logan Act, which bars private citizens from interfering with U.S. diplomacy, is an 18th-century statute that i s periodically waved around as a threat, but has never been used for a prosecution.