Trump knew for weeks that aide was misleading over Russia: White House

[webfact]

Trump knew for weeks that aide was misleading over Russia: White House

By Steve Holland and Richard Cowan

REUTERS

 

File photo - National security adviser General Michael Flynn arrives to deliver a statement during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington U.S., February 1, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump knew for weeks that national security adviser Michael Flynn had misled the White House about his contacts with Russia but did not immediately force him out, an administration spokesman said on Tuesday.

 

Trump was informed in late January that Flynn had not told Vice President Mike Pence the whole truth about conversations he had with Russia's ambassador to the United States before Trump took office, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

 

Flynn quit on Monday after Trump asked for his resignation, Spicer said. "The issue pure and simple came down to a matter of trust," Spicer told reporters.

 

The departure was another disruption for an administration already repeatedly distracted by miscues and internal dramas since the Republican businessman assumed the presidency on Jan. 20.

 

U.S. lawmakers, including some leading Republicans, called for a deeper inquiry into not just Flynn's actions but broader White House ties to Russia. Trump has long said that he would like improved relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said Trump only moved against Flynn because of media attention to the issue, and not because of concern at any wrongdoing by the former lieutenant general.

 

"The reason they lost faith or trust in General Flynn only last night when they knew for weeks that he had been lying was that it became public," Schiff told MSNBC.

 

A timeline of events outlined by Spicer and a U.S. official showed that Trump had known for weeks about Flynn misleading the vice president.

 

Trump, a former reality TV star whose catchphrase was "You're fired!," has often boasted of his eagerness to get rid of subordinates. But he was not quick to fire Flynn, a strong advocate of a better relations with Russia and a hard line against Islamist militants.

 

The Justice Department warned the White House in late January that Flynn had misled Pence by denying to him that he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, a potentially illegal act, a U.S. official said.

 

Flynn did talk about sanctions with the diplomat, whose calls were recorded by U.S. intelligence officials, the official said. But Pence went on television in mid-January and denied that Flynn had discussed sanctions.

 

Spicer stressed that the administration believed there was no legal problem with Flynn's conversations with Kislyak, but rather an issue over the president's trust in his adviser.

 

He said the Justice Department sought to notify the White House counsel on Jan. 26. about the discrepancies in Flynn's accounts.

"The White House counsel informed the president immediately. The president asked them to commit a review of whether there was a legal situation there. That was immediately determined there wasn't. That was what the president believed at the time from what he had been told and he was proved to be correct," Spicer told reporters.

 

"We got to a point not based on a legal issue, but based on a trust issue," he said.

 

Flynn's conversations with the ambassador took place around the time that then-President Barack Obama imposed sanctions on Russia, charging that Moscow had used cyber attacks to try to influence the 2016 presidential election in Trump's favour.

 

A U.S. official familiar with the transcripts of the calls with the ambassador said Flynn indicated that if Russia did not retaliate in kind for Obama's Dec. 29 order expelling 35 Russian suspected spies and sanctioning Russian spy agencies, that could smooth the way towards a broader discussion of improving U.S.-Russian relations once Trump took power.

 

LEGAL FALLOUT?

 

Flynn's discussions with the Russian diplomat could potentially have been in violation of a law known as the Logan Act, banning private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments about disputes or controversies with the United States. However, nobody has been prosecuted in modern times under the law, which dates from 1799.

 

Although Flynn is almost certain not to be prosecuted under the Logan Act, he could still face legal trouble if it emerges that he violated other federal laws in his communications with the Russians, said Andrew Kent, a professor at Fordham University School of Law in New York. The Espionage Act, for example, criminalises sharing information with foreign governments

Democrats, who do not have control of Congress, clamoured for probes into Flynn, and asked how much Trump knew about his connections to Russia.

 

U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for an investigation of potential criminal violations surrounding the resignation of Flynn and said senior Trump administration officials should face tough questions.

 

"What I am calling for is an independent investigation with executive authority to pursue potential criminal actions," Schumer told reporters, saying such a probe could not be led by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions or White House lawyers.

 

Two leading Republicans in the Senate, Bob Corker and John Cornyn, said the intelligence committee should investigate Flynn's contacts with Russia.

 

But the highest-ranking Republican in Congress, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, sidestepped questions about whether lawmakers should look into Flynn's Russia ties, adding that he would leave it to the Trump administration to explain the circumstances behind Flynn's departure.

 

A broader investigation of the White House and its ties to Russia is not possible without the cooperation either of the Justice Department or the Republican-led Congress.

 

“Nothing is going to happen without some Republicans moving,” Professor Kent said.

 

Russia's aggression in Ukraine and Syria and Republican congressional opposition to removing sanctions on Russia make any White House attempt to embrace Putin problematic.

 

Senator John McCain, a leading Republican voice on foreign relations, said Flynn's resignation raised questions about the administration’s intentions towards Putin’s Russia.

 

(Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell, David Morgan, John Walcott, Doina Chiacu and Susan Heavey; Writing by Alistair Bell; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Frances Kerry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-15

[pitrevie]

And this was the clown leading the chants, "lock her up". I am certain Trey Gowdy will want to hold an inquiry. Trump knew weeks ago but I guess he was too busy signing all those executive orders to bother with trivial things like security.

[stevenl]

Not only is Trump ignoring Congress, Congress seems to be happy with that and is letting him do as he pleases.

sent using Tapatalk

[ilostmypassword]

What I think is significant is that Trump reacted to Flynn's resignation with a complaint about leaks. So far, no complaint about Flynn's conduct.  

[stevenl]

What I think is significant is that Trump reacted to Flynn's resignation with a complaint about leaks. So far, no complaint about Flynn's conduct.  

Of course not. He is running a business, therefore he ordered this, except for the leak.

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[Emster23]

"Trump knew for weeks that aide was misleading.."

Aide? AIDE? Head of National Security is hardly an "aide".

Trump is the godfather of lies, so why surprised others follow his lead? "That's my boy!"

[craigt3365]

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

Not only is Trump ignoring Congress, Congress seems to be happy with that and is letting him do as he pleases.

sent using Tapatalk
 

The Republican side for sure.  Which is politics at it's worst.  The democratic side wants a full investigation.  Sadly, they are in the minority unless a few from the other side help out.

[Rob13]

Russia's going to be Trump's watergate and downfall. 

[Andaman Al]

51 minutes ago, Rob13 said:

Russia's going to be Trump's watergate and downfall. 

You, know, I am just not sure. If Congress had any moral backbone or patriotism then Trump would be impeached, but there is a majority of republicans now that have shown for the last 6 mths that they will stoop as low as can be and turn their backs on the constitution to make sure they can feed at the trough for as long as possible. I think it will only be after the mid-terms when the republicans will lose both houses that anything will happen to Trump. God help us all in the next two years.

[ilostmypassword]

Trump Campaign Aides Had Repeated Contacts With Russian Intelligence

Phone records and intercepted calls show that members of Donald J. Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and other Trump associates had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials in the year before the election, according to four current and former American officials.

 

American law enforcement and intelligence agencies intercepted the communications around the same time that they were discovering evidence that Russia was trying to disrupt the presidential election by hacking into the Democratic National Committee, three of the officials said. The intelligence agencies then sought to learn whether the Trump campaign was colluding with the Russians on the hacking or other efforts to influence the election.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/us/politics/russia-intelligence-communications-trump.html

[sujoop]

Even though the Republican controlled House is looking the other way or making shameless excuses (same as Trump's equally guiltless & shameless followers),  at least 'some' checks and balances are working with the FBI probe- who  will then issue their report to Trump's Attorney General Jeff Sessions... (who is certain to review/dismiss = rinse/repeat comrades, GOP & Trump's shameless supporters)

[Baerboxer]

5 hours ago, pitrevie said:

And this was the clown leading the chants, "lock her up". I am certain Trey Gowdy will want to hold an inquiry. Trump knew weeks ago but I guess he was too busy signing all those executive orders to bother with trivial things like security.

 

If Hilary Dilary had won, would those "lawmakers" have clamored for an inquiry regarding her family foundation, it's very large payments from the Saudis and the German governments; her husband's runway meeting with the AG just before the Feds said she was negligent but not merited prosecution; her still hazy comments on the emails and servers and the claimed obstruction of the investigation?

 

Of course not because they'd all backed her to win and thought they'd still have endless access to the trough.

 

Sorry, but American politics is in a very bad place. Had it not been, Trump or anyone else like him wouldn't have got close. 

[Scott]

Off-topic posts removed.  

[Baerboxer]

54 minutes ago, sujoop said:

Even though the Republican controlled House is looking the other way or making shameless excuses (same as Trump's equally guiltless & shameless followers),  at least 'some' checks and balances are working with the FBI probe- who  will then issue their report to Trump's Attorney General Jeff Sessions... (who is certain to review/dismiss = rinse/repeat comrades, GOP & Trump's shameless supporters)

 

Isn't what you describe the usual procedure?

[ilostmypassword]

21 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

If Hilary Dilary had won, would those "lawmakers" have clamored for an inquiry regarding her family foundation, it's very large payments from the Saudis and the German governments; her husband's runway meeting with the AG just before the Feds said she was negligent but not merited prosecution; her still hazy comments on the emails and servers and the claimed obstruction of the investigation?

 

Of course not because they'd all backed her to win and thought they'd still have endless access to the trough.

 

Sorry, but American politics is in a very bad place. Had it not been, Trump or anyone else like him wouldn't have got close. 

Her family foundation has been investigated by the FBI but was closed because there was nothing there. Large payments to the foundation don't benefit the Clintons at all. That meeting with the AG actually forced her to recuse herself from making a judgement on the servers. Comey decided not to prosecute. For pretty much the same reason that the military decided not to prosecute Michael Flynn. And for pretty much the same reason prosecutors generally decide not to prosecute cases of this sort.  

And nothing that was alleged about Clinton rises to the level of collaborating with a hostile foreign intelligence service. 

[sujoop]

8 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Isn't what you describe the usual procedure?

In the present context we are talking about a probe into potential  TREASON,  potentially directed from the highest office, in collusion with a foreign Govt. Not 'usual' at all.

 

[thaihome]

Congressional Republicans will do nothing about Trump's behavior until he has given them more then enough rope for an impeachment or resignation.  Their main hope is for Trump to be gone ASAP and Pence to become President.  

 

The Republicans have very few agreements with Trump on policy (or what passes for Trump's policy) but Pence is one of them heart and soul.  If you think Trump is bad for the country (or not) wait until Pence and Ryan have a couple years of running the show. 

TH 

[attrayant]

5 hours ago, pitrevie said:

And this was the clown leading the chants, "lock her up". I am certain Trey Gowdy will want to hold an inquiry. Trump knew weeks ago but I guess he was too busy signing all those executive orders to bother with trivial things like security.

 

I'm sure Trump will be the first to insist on a thorough investigation, since we already know how strongly he feels about such things:

 

[craigt3365]

23 minutes ago, attrayant said:

 

I'm sure Trump will be the first to insist on a thorough investigation, since we already know how strongly he feels about such things:

 

Fake News! LOL.  Just kidding.  Great link.

[pitrevie]

1 hour ago, Baerboxer said:

 

If Hilary Dilary had won, would those "lawmakers" have clamored for an inquiry regarding her family foundation, it's very large payments from the Saudis and the German governments; her husband's runway meeting with the AG just before the Feds said she was negligent but not merited prosecution; her still hazy comments on the emails and servers and the claimed obstruction of the investigation?

 

Of course not because they'd all backed her to win and thought they'd still have endless access to the trough.

 

Sorry, but American politics is in a very bad place. Had it not been, Trump or anyone else like him wouldn't have got close. 

You really are clutching at straws mentioning the foundation which unlike Trumps foundation has been given a clean bill of health. Note Clinton met with the AG of the US not with Putin or the Russian ambassador. Now we need to know what was promised in return for the lifting of sanctions and were those talks encouraged by the President elect. As for the trough you mention the snout is already deeply embedded, membership rates doubled at his golf club where presidential meetings take place. Just how much is that costing the US government.

[Neurath]

This stink will stick. There is now nothing, absolutely nothing, that this administration can do that will not be read - rightly - through the prism of these verified connections with the Russian Government and security services. Anywhere there is a Russian interest involved, this administration cannot be trusted. Sad. What might now appear to be a mole that can be cut, looks like it might turn out to be a metastasized melanoma. Could be terminal.

 

What other Security Services have been aware of these contacts between the Trump campaign and the Russians?

 

Remember when Trump accused Cruz's father of being involved in the Kennedy assassination? Wouldn't surprise me if the Russians put that idea into his golden hued (and showered) head.

[dunroaming]

Politics are a dirty business but Trump is taking it to a brand new level!  For all of those people who were saying "give him a chance" there now seems to be silence.  Not sure how much longer Trump can survive  swimming in the vile swamp he has created but surely this maniac must be stopped destroying the USA and destabilising the world.

 

As for those still supporting him........ really?

[Opl]

23 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

Politics are a dirty business but Trump is taking it to a brand new level!  For all of those people who were saying "give him a chance" there now seems to be silence.  Not sure how much longer Trump can survive  swimming in the vile swamp he has created but surely this maniac must be stopped destroying the USA and destabilising the world.

 

As for those still supporting him........ really?

 

Only now I understand why Trump supporters here say " Trump has done more in 3 weeks than Obama in 8 years!" Not mentioning who find Jared " smart as hell" and seriously believe Ivanka will be POTUS after 8 years of her father... 

Edited February 15, 2017 by Opl

[jerojero]

It's only another alternate truth about Trump, by Trump. No worries.

[Redline]

11 hours ago, pitrevie said:

And this was the clown leading the chants, "lock her up". I am certain Trey Gowdy will want to hold an inquiry. Trump knew weeks ago but I guess he was too busy signing all those executive orders to bother with trivial things like security.

But, he may actually be locked up.  A serious offense in the Constitution itself.

[Srikcir]

The only good thing that has come out of the Flynn scandal is watching the Great Strategist Putin "twist in the wind."

First he says there were no contacts with Trump during the election. Then there were some contacts after Trump's election but nothing related to the sanctions. Now he says the whole matter is an internal matter of the US and will no longer comment.

 

Now Trump is backpedaling on being soft (opposed by many Republican congressmen) with the annexation of Crimea and Russian support for the Ukraine insurrection. Putin in response showed his ire by deploying a new 500 to 5,000 km range cruise missile in violation of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Beginning to sound like the old Cold War.

[Redline]

10 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

What I think is significant is that Trump reacted to Flynn's resignation with a complaint about leaks. So far, no complaint about Flynn's conduct.  

Considering DT has known for weeks that he violated the law, this is significant.  There is much more to come...

[Redline]

45 minutes ago, Opl said:

 

Only now I understand why Trump supporters here say " Trump has done more in 3 weeks than Obama in 8 years!" Not mentioning who find Jared " smart as hell" and seriously believe Ivanka will be POTUS after 8 years of her father... 

They meant done more damage

[Redline]

5 hours ago, sujoop said:

In the present context we are talking about a probe into potential  TREASON,  potentially directed from the highest office, in collusion with a foreign Govt. Not 'usual' at all.

 

It is the most serious thing that could possibly happen.  It still carries the death penalty.  We may be hearing "execute him," instead of "lock her up."

Edited February 15, 2017 by Redline

[Grouse]

I wonder what GCGQ knows?

 

They'll be keeping their powder dry in support of a great trade deal between the U.K. and the USA.