FLYNN OUT? NO, NOT ‘NYET’
Admin is coy on Russ flap
The White House on Sunday continued to distance itself from National Security Adviser Michael Flynn as Democrats pushed for an investigation into his contacts with the Russian ambassador before President Trump took office.
Trump adviser Stephen Miller made the rounds on the Sunday news shows, and when asked whether the commander in chief still has confidence in the retired general, he demurred.
“That’s the question that I think you should ask the president, the question you should ask Reince [Priebus], the chief of staff,” Miller told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“General Flynn has served his country admirably,” he added, to which host Chuck Todd responded, “So the White House did not give you anything to say.”
“They did not give me anything to say,” Miller answered. “It’s not for me to answer hypothetical. It wouldn’t be responsible. It’s a sensitive matter.”
The Washington Post, citing nine sources, has reported that Flynn had a private discussion with the Russian ambassador prior to the inauguration — when he was still a private citizen — despite the Trump administration saying otherwise. Plus, he reportedly said he couldn’t be certain that the sanctions imposed on Russia by the Obama administration did not come up. That would have been illegal.
The revelations upset Trump, who told “several people” of his displeasure, according to Politico.
Flynn joined President Trump aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening, per a White House report, which did not note what they talked about.
The communication between Flynn and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak put Vice President Mike Pence in a tough spot. Pence told CBS in an interview last week that he spoke to Flynn about dealings with Kislyak and was reassured that the conversation “had nothing what- soever to do with those sanctions.”
Rep. Elijah Cummings on Sunday called for Flynn’s security clearance to be revoked until an investigation is completed. Cummings (D-Md.) also questioned what Trump knew about the conversation and when he knew it.
“That, to me, is the key question,” Cummings said on ABC’s “This Week.”
On Friday, Trump declined to come to Flynn’s defense, claiming he wasn’t aware of The Washington Post’s revelations.
“I don’t know about that,” Trump told reporters. “I haven’t seen it. What report is that? I haven’t seen that. I’ll look into that.”
In a separate interview on ABC’s “This Week,” Miller said, “I don’t have any news to make to you today on this point,” Miller said. “It’s a great question for our chief of staff. It’s a great question for the office of vice president.”
Regardless, he got a shout-out from his boss.
“Congratulations Stephen Miller — on representing me this morning on the various Sunday morning shows,” Trump tweeted.