Flynn’s likely to spin loose
FORMER NATIONAL Security Adviser Michael Flynn may skate on some serious legal trouble.
Flynn (photo) misled the FBI about discussing sanctions with a Russian diplomat ahead of President Trump’s inauguration, according to new reports Thursday.
The denial could have meant criminal charges — lying to FBI agents is a felony — but investigators don’t believe Flynn intentionally lied, according to The Washington Post and CNN.
Word of Flynn narrowly avoiding legal woes came as the man pegged to replace him turned down the position.
A senior White House official said that retired Navy special forces officer Robert Harward declined the President’s offer due to financial and family
Others said Harward had no interest in the job due to the chaotic climate at the White House.
A friend said the 60-year-old former Navy SEAL called the offer a “s--- sandwich,” according to CNN.
Harward was a little more diplomatic when telling The Associated Press that the Trump administration was “very accommodating to my needs, both professionally and personally.”
“It’s purely a personal issue,” he said. “I’m in a unique position finally after being in the military for 40 years to enjoy some personal time.”
Officials said earlier this week that Acting National Security Adviser Keith Kellogg and retired Gen. David Petraeus were both considered contenders for the position.
Petraeus, a retired four-star general, resigned as CIA director in 2012 and pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge of commitments. mishandling classified information after giving classified documents to his biographer, with whom he was having an affair.
He was also fined $100,000 and remains on probation.
On Thursday, Trump continued to defend Flynn, calling him a “fine person” and blaming the media for the former Army general’s fall.
Flynn for weeks publicly denied that his conversation with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak involved U.S. sanctions against Russia put in place by the Obama administration.
The December call was monitored by the FBI, as is common practice regarding foreign diplomats, and the acting attorney general warned Trump’s team that they were repeating a falsehood and Flynn could be blackmailed by the Russians.
Press secretary Sean Spicer and Vice President Pence both publicly denied that Flynn had mentioned sanctions during the call.
The President asked for Flynn’s resignation Monday following another Washington Post report that revealed Flynn misled Pence about the substance of the call.
The FBI interviewed the security chief on Jan. 24, just days after Trump’s inauguration, to ask him about the contents of his call with Kislyak.
The kerfuffle around Flynn’s resignation comes after a damning report that the FBI also found several top Trump campaign members were in contact with Russia throughout the campaign.
Trump’s newly appointed Attorney General Jeff Sessions has brushed off calls that he recuse himself from any investigation involving contact between Trump’s close aides and Russian operatives.