Democrats urge probe of Flynn’s talk with the Russians.
Security adviser spoke of sanctions with ambassador
WASHINGTON — National security adviser Michael Flynn spoke privately with Vice President Mike Pence on Friday in an apparent attempt to stem the fallout from the disclosure Flynn had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with that country’s ambassador and then allowed Pence and other White House officials to publicly deny he had done so, an administration official said.
The conversation took place as senior Democrats in Congress called for existing investigations of Russia’s interference in the 2016 election to expand in scope to scrutinize Flynn’s contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak weeks before the Trump administration took office.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said that if the allegations are proved, Flynn should step down.
“If the now-national security adviser was undermining U.S. national security interests, he’s unfit to hold that office,” Schiff said in an interview with the Washington Post. “Compounding the issue is whether he then misled the country about the nature of his contacts.”
Trump: ‘What report?’
Current and former U.S. officials said that in his conversation with Kislyak in late December, Flynn urged Moscow to show restraint in its response to punitive sanctions imposed on Russia by former President Barack Obama’s administration, signaling the Trump administration would revisit the issue when it took office.
Those contacts were seen by some U.S. officials as potentially illegal interference in the U.S. relationship with Moscow at a time U.S. intelligence agencies were concluding Russia had waged extensive cyber and influence campaigns to upend the 2016 presidential race and help to elect Trump.
The president claimed to be unaware of the Flynn controversy as he traveled to Florida on Friday afternoon as part of a weekend trip with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
In a brief exchange with reporters during the flight south, Trump was asked about the report in the Post
that Flynn had discussed sanctions against Russia despite repeated denials.
“I don’t know about that; I haven’t seen it,” Trump said, according to a transcript of the conversation. “What report is that? I haven’t seen that. I’ll look into that.” Flynn’s relationship with Pence was placed under particular strain because the vice president — apparently relying on inaccurate accounts from Flynn — publicly declared Flynn had never discussed sanctions with the Russian diplomat.
Officials declined to discuss the outcome of Flynn’s conversation with Pence, which took place by phone Friday morning. The two men could be seen engaging in an awkward handshake before Trump’s news conference with Abe.
Republicans mum
The controversy fanned speculation about Flynn’s standing in the White House and whether he would face pressure to resign.
The senior administration official disputed that Flynn was in jeopardy.
“He seems fine,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “He’s in every meeting he’s supposed to be doing, fulfilling his job as national security adviser. He’s seeing the president constantly.”
Republicans were quiet on the matter Friday, but senior Democrats called for investigations of Flynn’s contacts with Kislyak. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., ranking Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, called for FBI Director James Comey to testify before the committee on the status of the bureau’s examination of Flynn’s calls.
Schiff said he intends to request the intelligence reports on Flynn’s conversations with the Russian ambassador.
Their contacts were captured as part of routine U.S. intelligence surveillance of Russian officials in the United States.
Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and CIA Director Mike Pompeo requesting a review of Flynn’s security clearance.