It’s too little, too late now - Michael Flynn already stepped down as National Security Adviser less than a month into Trump’s term after it was found that he lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his connections with the Russians during President Donald Trump’s campaign - but seriously, some recent media reports have successfully painted a picture that shows there was absolutely no reason for Flynn to be part of Trump’s administration to begin with.
Recent reports indicated that when filing paperwork for security clearance in 2014, Flynn ignored something he had recently been reminded - that he could not accept fees or gifts from foreign government without congressional permission.
The former Army lieutenant general nevertheless accepted $34,000 for a speaking event from the Russian government in December 2015, as well as $500,000 from the Turkish government for his lobbying efforts on their behalf. According to Pentagon reports, Flynn neither sought permission for or reported the payments afterwards.
Even worse, some people - including Rep. Elijah Cummings - say the White House is intentionally withholding documents that could confirm or deny Flynn’s legal violations, something that doesn’t leave the White House in a good light.
So here is the picture Americans have: Michael Flynn, with a cool biker ring, was let go from the Obama administration in April 2014 (he officially retired, but reports quickly surfaced indicating that he had been forced out due to an inability to get along with superiors, as well as conspiratorial beliefs that colored his decisionmaking).
A man known for making up facts, Flynn then became closely associated with the Trump campaign, ingratiating himself to Donald and becoming part of the public face of his campaign team. Many wondered if Flynn’s history of ignoring facts in favor of his own favored reality would negatively affect Trump. Indeed, Trump apparently nearly considered Flynn as a candidate for the vice presidential position.
Instead, Pence was ultimately chosen as Flynn placed in the position of National Security Adviser.
Then a month into Trump’s presidency, it was revealed that Flynn lied to Pence, and to the American public, about the fact that he had a documented relationship of interacting with Russian representatives during Trump’s presidential campaign, something he swore up and down he did not do (this closely followed by similar relevations from other members of the Trump administration). Even more wondered why Trump was apparently showing more respect for Flynn than for Pence.
And now, the news that Flynn not only communicated with Russians and lied about it, he also accepted payments from Russia and failed to disclose it or seek permission as he had been explicitly told he must do. And once again, Trump appears to be trying to help Flynn, apparently blocking access to documents that would incriminate him further.
This paints an image of a White House that plays favorites, plays fast and loose with the rules and plays games with the media. It’s a White House where Flynn is protected regardless of what crimes he’s committed, and it’s a White House where a man known for being uninterested in facts fits right alongside the president. If Trump had his way, Flynn would surely still be on staff.