[Mr [Michael] Flynn [National Security Adviser in Trump administration] resigned over allegations he discussed US sanctions with a Russian envoy before Donald Trump took office. Republicans have joined congressional calls for an investigation into Mr Flynn's contacts with Russia. If the allegations are true, it would have been illegal for Mr Flynn to conduct US diplomacy as a private citizen, before he was appointed as Mr Trump's national security adviser.]
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38974085 Michael Flynn resignation: He had to go, says White House 15 minutes ago From the section US & Canada [Video: LIVE: White House press secretary Sean Spicer holds a news briefing] National security adviser Michael Flynn knew he had to resign after he misled the vice-president, a White House official has said. "He knew he had become a lightning rod and he made that decision," Kellyanne Conway said on NBC's Today programme. ***Mr Flynn resigned over allegations he discussed US sanctions with a Russian envoy before Donald Trump took office.*** [Emphasis added.] ***Republicans have joined congressional calls for an investigation into Mr Flynn's contacts with Russia.*** [Emphasis added.] ***If the allegations are true, it would have been illegal for Mr Flynn to conduct US diplomacy as a private citizen, before he was appointed as Mr Trump's national security adviser.*** [Emphasis added.] Mr Flynn, a retired army lieutenant-general, initially denied having discussed sanctions with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, and Vice-President Mike Pence publicly denied the allegations on his behalf. Russia looms large behind Flynn affair Five big questions after Flynn's resignation Russia: The scandal Trump can't shake How Flynn's resignation unfolded The people around Donald Trump He later said he could not recall whether he discussed the sanctions. "In the end, it was misleading the vice-president that made the situation unsustainable," Ms Conway said on Tuesday. Senior Republican and House Speaker Paul Ryan also weighed in on Tuesday, noting Mr Trump had "made the right decision" in asking for Mr Flynn's resignation. "You cannot have a national security adviser misleading the vice president and others," Mr Ryan said at a news conference. Former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn.Image copyrightREUTERS Image caption Mr Flynns resignation raises questions about Mr Trump's relations with Russia, Republican lawmakers say His comments contrast the account offered by White House aides, who have insisted Mr Flynn resigned voluntarily. Who is Michael Flynn? US reports said earlier the White House had been warned about the contacts last month and had been told Mr Flynn might be vulnerable to Russian blackmail. In his letter of resignation (PDF), Mr Flynn said he had "inadvertently briefed the vice-president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador" late last year. How are Republicans reacting? In his first public comments about the controversy, President Trump tweeted on Tuesday: "The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N Korea etc?" President Donald Trump (L) and Michael Flynn (R).Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES Image caption Mr Flynn was an early supporter of President Trump Republican John McCain, chairman of the Senate armed services committee, said Mr Flynn's resignation was a "troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus" and raises questions about Mr Trump's intentions towards Russia. Senator Roy Blunt, a Republican member of the Senate intelligence committee, called for an investigation into any alleged connections between Mr Trump and Russian officials. Texas Senator John Cornyn, the second-ranked Senate Republican leader, echoed calls for an investigation into Mr Flynn's ties to Russia. Meanwhile, US House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes told reporters on Tuesday he wants to investigate the leaks that led to Mr Flynn's resignation. Grey line What this says about Trump and Russia - Jon Sopel, North America editor In one recent interview Trump seemed to suggest that America as a state had no greater moral authority than Russia. It was the doctrine of American Unexceptionalism if you like. Michael Flynn had sat with the Russian President not that long ago at a dinner honouring the pro-government TV network Russia Today. Extraordinary that a former three-star US general would be there. A dossier drawn up by a former MI6 officer - that was flatly denied - alleged all manner of Russian involvement in President Trump's businesses and presidential campaign. The Trump base love what they've heard about the migrant ban, the eviction of illegal immigrants, the jobs pledges and a lot more besides. What causes a lot of people to scratch their heads is why the love-in with Putin. What is the goal, where does this lead - but what is driving this? Even if the most lurid things in the dossier were untrue, are there other things that are? Does Putin have some kind of leverage over the new American President? Grey line How is Moscow responding? Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would not be commenting on the resignation. "This is the internal affair of the Americans, the internal affair of the Trump administration," he added. "It's nothing to do with us." In this file photo taken on 10 December 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen centre right with retired US Lt Gen Michael Flynn, center leftImage copyrightAP Image caption Mr Flynn was pictured dining with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in December 2015 Other Russian lawmakers have spoken out in defence of Mr Flynn, with Senator Alexei Pushkov tweeting that he had been "forced to resign not because of his mistake but because of a full-fledged aggressive campaign". "Trump is the next target," he tweeted (in Russian). Mr Flynn had encouraged a softer policy on Russia but questions were raised about his perceived closeness to Moscow. What happens next? Senior Democrat Adam Schiff said Mr Flynn's departure would not end questions about contacts between Donald Trump's campaign and Russia. Congressional democrats John Conyers and Elijah Cummings have demanded a classified briefing to Congress on Michael Flynn by the justice department and FBI. "We in Congress need to know who authorised his actions, permitted them, and continued to let him have access to our most sensitive national security information despite knowing these risks," their statement said. Several House Democrats had already called on Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz to launch an investigation into Mr Flynn's ties to Russia. Who will replace him? Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg speaks to the media in the lobby of Donald TrumpImage copyrightREUTERS Image caption Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg has more than 30 years' experience in the army While Mr Kellogg has been appointed acting national security adviser, former CIA director David Petraeus and Robert Harward, a former deputy commander of US Central Command, are also under consideration for the post, White House officials say. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
