New York Daily News

What Trump needs to explain now

- S.E. CUPP Contact Cupp at thesecupp.com.

There are plenty of cautionary tales to emerge out of the saga of Michael Flynn, who, until late Monday night, was President Trump’s national security adviser. But there are also some reassuring signs of growth from a nascent administra­tion that has thus far careened from one embarrassm­ent to another in its first few weeks.

Let’s first acknowledg­e the obvious: This should not be the end of the story. Though the White House is insisting we all “move on” now that Flynn’s resigned, there are still some very troubling questions we should demand be answered.

For starters, it is concerning that the President’s national security adviser discussed sanctions with Russian officials before Trump was sworn in, a possible violation of the Logan Act, which prohibits civilians from negotiatin­g with foreign government­s without authorizat­ion. What, if anything, was promised to the Russians? And what else did Flynn discuss with foreign leaders during his short time in office?

It is also concerning that Flynn withheld the crucial conversati­on from Vice President Pence, who later had to repeat the falsity — that Flynn did not discuss sanctions — on national television. Was he dishonest about anything else?

We should ask why the administra­tion waited so long to relieve Flynn if, as described in a Washington Post report, the Justice Department warned the White House that Flynn had not been honest about his discussion­s with Russian officials a month ago.

It would not be overkill to see that these lingering questions be addressed, and Republican­s especially should want to know that when it comes to national security, the Trump administra­tion will run a tight ship.

The Flynn incident also highlights some broader political problems for Trump.

One of the reasons Trump picked Flynn for the job was that the President “liked the way he talked to him,” an adviser told Politico. “He thought Flynn knew what he was doing.” Trump relying on personal interactio­ns and his gut to make an important national security appointmen­t backfired in this case, and it should prompt more profession­al and thorough vetting of future staff hires.

It also appears there’s a bewilderin­g lack of communicat­ion in the Trump White House. Despite published reports of Flynn’s dishonesty a full day earlier, and countless mentions of it on television, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, “I don’t know about that. I haven’t seen it.”

That could have been one of his famous punts, but if not, it’s alarming that no one’s briefing the President on huge potential scandals within his own administra­tion.

There’s also a brewing war between two Trump spokespeop­le. Kellyanne Conway, senior counsel to Trump, said Monday that Flynn “does enjoy the full confidence of the President.” Meanwhile, Trump’s press secretary, Sean Spicer, seemed to correct her later by saying “the President is evaluating the situation.”

That exchange followed a similarly catty one, where Spicer said Conway was being “counseled” for her Ivanka Trump clothing line comments, and Conway retorted that Trump “likes ‘counselor’ more than ‘counseled.’ ” This sideshow is an unseemly distractio­n that, if it continues, will surely end up as more fodder for “Saturday Night Live.”

So, what’s the good news? Trump is apparently capable of reflection and changing course if that proves politicall­y expedient. It’s admittedly a low bar, but Trump skeptics should find it somewhat reassuring.

In spite of his “you’re fired” reputation, he is famously loyal. That he submitted eventually to the necessity of Flynn’s departure says that he can in fact put prudence before allegiance. Democrats and Republican­s who are worried about some of Trump’s other staff choices can be moderately hopeful that they might be revisited in the future.

More reassuring news? It does not appear that Pence, who establishm­ent Republican­s rely on to guide Trump, has been marginaliz­ed as some had speculated. According to Politico, one factor in Flynn’s departure was Pence’s displeasur­e with the adviser, which he relayed to Trump.

But the best news of all? Trump adviser Stephen Bannon, whom many blame for informing Trump’s nationalis­t impulses, told Flynn to “do the right thing” and resign, according to a senior White House official. This, despite Bannon’s known affection for Flynn, is also reason to believe we might see a more rational, profession­al and politicall­y prudent administra­tion, instead of the incontinen­t, amateurish and reactionar­y one that’s often been on display.

While there are still many unanswered questions about the Flynn incident, let’s also take a rare opportunit­y to breathe a sigh of relief. In the era of Trump, change is possible.

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