Lynch: Flynn probe ‘could be much wider’
WASHINGTON — The revelation by leaders of the House Oversight Committee that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn may have broken federal law by failing to disclose Russian dealings and payments could lead to a broader probe that could go all the way to President Trump’s White House, a Bay State congressman said.
“It could be a much wider investigation. It may implicate the White House. I’m not sure — we need to follow the evidence where it leads,” U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, who sits on the committee, told the Herald.
Yesterday, committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and ranking member U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) told reporters that Flynn’s failure to disclose contacts and payments, including $33,000 from Russian propaganda network Russia Today, on his security clearance forms, likely ran afoul of a law that carries criminal penalties, including potential jail time. Flynn also could face charges that he violated the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause.
“As a former military officer, you simply cannot take money from Russia, Turkey or anybody else,” Chaffetz said yesterday. “Personally, I see no data to support the notion that Gen. Flynn complied with the law.”
“I think Chairman Chaffetz has signaled an intent to do a deep dive on this,” said Lynch, a South Boston Democrat. “I think this is a perfect example of why we have the Emolument Clause in the first place.”
The revelation also evidences potentially crucial problems with security vetting within President Trump’s White House, experts said.
“I am concerned they are not properly vetting their inner circle,” said Mark Zaid, an attorney who specializes in government whistleblower cases, noting that Jared Kushner also failed to list contacts with foreign officials, including a Russian ambassador, on his security forms. “What concerns me is yes, the Russians, but more precisely from a tangible matter is the lack of attention and seriousness to their security processes in the inner circle of the White House.”
Flynn’s attorney, Robert Kelner, said in a statement that Flynn notified the Defense Intelligence Agency before and after taking a trip to Russia to attend a gala thrown by a Russian state-sponsored television network.