Flynn’s departure shows need to vet Trump staffers
Just 24 days into his presidency, President Donald Trump’s embattled national security adviser was forced to resign — a glaring misstep by the fledgling administration.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer says retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn didn’t leave because he had multiple contacts with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak prior to Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration: He resigned because he had “misled” Vice President Mike Pence and other White House officials about those contacts, which contributed to an “evolving and eroding level of trust” between Flynn and the Trump administration. That’s what happens when obfuscation and “alternative facts” are acceptable.
Though it’s illegal for private citizens to conduct U.S. diplomacy, Spicer finally admitted Tuesday that Flynn did, indeed, discuss Obama-imposed sanctions against Russia with Kislyak, despite Flynn’s previous denials. Those sanctions, which included expulsion of 38 Russian diplomats, were levied after evidence surfaced that Russia had attempted to interfere with the U.S. presidential elections that saw Hillary Clinton winning the popular vote while Trump won in the electoral college.
There is a plethora of disturbing, unanswered questions surrounding the Flynn affair, including whether Flynn acted on his own or at the direction of the then-president elect. And why did President Trump, Spicer and White House counselor Kellyanne Conway maintain for weeks — almost up to the day of Flynn’s resignation — that he had done nothing wrong and remained in Trump’s good graces?
If there’s a redeeming note in this disappointing saga, it’s that Flynn — who was unnervingly close to Russian officials and considered Russia a possible military partner in Syria and elsewhere — is no longer advising the president on national security issues. Though a close affiliation with Russian officials and business is clearly not viewed negatively by the new president, Flynn’s associations put him in a compromised position even before he officially became national security adviser. House Democrats quickly brought out the long knives, calling for an investigation not only of Flynn’s actions, but also of the administration’s tardiness in recognizing the problem. And Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., reversed course late Friday and said his committee will investigate possible contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Although Trump has never served in the military, he has a clear affinity for high-ranking career officers: Defense Secretary James Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly are both retired Marine generals. And he’s named retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as Flynn’s temporary replacement. Now, Trump is reportedly considering Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a retired Navy SEAL who served under Mattis, works for defense contracting giant Lockheed Martin and appears to have less baggage than Flynn or apparent backup pick retired Gen. David Petraeus — the ex-CIA director who resigned in disgrace after admitting he leaked classified information to his mistress/biographer Paula Broadwell.
Whether or not the new president adds yet another retired officer to his staff — and the argument can and should be made that he needs to cast a wider net — the Flynn affair shows that a very, very thorough vetting of candidates is in order.