Koh Samui hide ‘n’ seek: Fugitive’s 19-year retreat ends in arrest

[webfact]

Former Trump adviser Flynn likely broke law with Russia trip - lawmakers

REUTERS

 

Former Defense Intelligence Agency Director retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, incoming White House national security adviser, speaks at the U.S. Institute of Peace "2017 Passing the Baton" conference in Washington, U.S., January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn likely broke the law by failing to get permission to be paid for a trip to Russia in 2015, the leaders of a House of Representatives committee said on Tuesday.

 

During the visit, Flynn, a retired lieutenant general who advised Donald Trump's presidential campaign, dined with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

"General Flynn had a duty and an obligation to seek and obtain permission to receive money from foreign governments," Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, told reporters. "It does not appear to us that that was ever sought, nor did he ever get that permission."

 

The oversight panel is looking into whether Flynn fully disclosed payments from Russian, Turkish or other foreign sources.

 

"As a former military officer, you simply cannot take money from Russia, Turkey or anybody else. And it appears as if he did take that money. It was inappropriate and there are repercussions for the violation of law," Chaffetz said.

 

Flynn was forced to resign on Feb. 13 for failing to disclose talks with Sergei Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the United States, about U.S. sanctions on Moscow and misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations, which occurred in December before Trump took office.

 

He is a subject in investigations by intelligence committees in the House and Senate, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, into allegations Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. election. Russia has denied the allegations, which have cast a shadow over the first 100 days of Trump's presidency.

 

Representative Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the oversight panel, said it also appeared as if Flynn had not fully disclosed the payments after the fact as required, saying a failure to do so would be a felony.

 

An attorney for Flynn did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters, but he told ABC News the retired general had briefed the Defense Intelligence Agency, which is part of the Defense Department, before and after the Russia trip.

 

"He answered any questions that were posed by DIA concerning the trip during those briefings," attorney Robert Kelner said, according to a statement ABC News posted on Twitter.

 

Asked about the assertions that Flynn appeared to have violated the law, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters: "That would be a question for him and law enforcement agencies."

 

(Reporting by Eric Walsh and Tim Ahmann; Editing by James Dalgleish and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-04-26

[Silurian]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Asked about the assertions that Flynn appeared to have violated the law, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters: "That would be a question for him and law enforcement agencies."

 

Yeah, the White House is trying to distance themselves from this "hot potato" as fast as they can backpedal. In no way, shape or form do they want to touch this toxic issue. Heck, they even won't submit any documents related to Flynn as requested.

 

White House blocks Flynn document request

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39710527

 

The White House's decision-making on Michael Flynn is troubling

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/25/politics/trump-flynn-white-house-russia/

 

Edited April 26, 2017 by Silurian

[ilostmypassword]

"If I did a tenth of what she [Hillary Clintion] did, I would be in jail today"

 

[Langsuan Man]

7 minutes ago, Crowes said:

More Trump Bashing Headlines on Thai Visa as usual. Maybe one day we'll see a thread highlighting some of the good things he's done so far (which there are many).......

With baited breath we await your list of all the good things he has done in the last 95 days 

[Silurian]

13 minutes ago, Crowes said:

Maybe one day we'll see a thread highlighting some of the good things he's done so far (which there are many).......

 

Well, he certainly helped Stephen Colbert and Rachel Maddow achieve record ratings!!!

Edited April 26, 2017 by Silurian

[ilostmypassword]

18 minutes ago, Crowes said:

More Trump Bashing Headlines on Thai Visa as usual. Maybe one day we'll see a thread highlighting some of the good things he's done so far (which there are many).......

He stopped a regulation which would make sure financial advisors are honest and don't sell out their clients interests. Hedge funds are so grateful for that one.

He signed a bill allowing cable companies to sell customers private information.

He got appointed to the Supreme Court a justice who consistently rules against workers and in favor of large corporations.

He tried desperately to get a health care bill passed which would have slashed Medicaid, contrary to his promise.

And he wants to pass a tax law that will disproportionately favor the rich. In fact, some of the proposed loopholes in his proposal, would especially benefit real estate developers.  Any current President you know of who's also a real estate developer?  Take your time.

[Skeptic7]

6 hours ago, Silurian said:

 

Well, he certainly helped Stephen Colbert and Rachel Maddow achieve record ratings!!!

And provided Bill Maher with absurd and hilarious comedic material! 

[craigt3365]

14 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

"If I did a tenth of what she [Hillary Clintion] did, I would be in jail today"

 

This is about Flynn, not Hillary. Don't deflect.

[tonray]

Trump will pardon him anyway.. the Presidential pardon is something that should have been done away with a long time ago.