CNN is now reporting that Russia was bragging about how they could use Flynn to influence Trump during the campaign
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) May 20, 2017
@CNN Five bylines on this story: @GloriaBorger, @PamelaBrownCNN, @JimSciutto, @Marshall_Cohen, @EricLichtblau https://t.co/Kv0DiAC5oq
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 20, 2017
… The conversations deeply concerned US intelligence officials, some of whom acted on their own to limit how much sensitive information they shared with Flynn, who was tapped to become Trump’s national security adviser, current and former governments officials said.
“This was a five-alarm fire from early on,” one former Obama administration official said, “the way the Russians were talking about him.” Another former administration official said Flynn was viewed as a potential national security problem.
The conversations picked up by US intelligence officials indicated the Russians regarded Flynn as an ally, sources said. That relationship developed throughout 2016, months before Flynn was caught on an intercepted call in December speaking with Russia’s ambassador in Washington, Sergey Kislyak. That call, and Flynn’s changing story about it, ultimately led to his firing as Trump’s first national security adviser…
Trump angrily denied any collusion with Russia this week and denounced the newest investigation — now in the hands of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III — as “a witch hunt.”
And he has remained steadfast in his loyalty to Flynn, even as the scrutiny surrounding his fired aide continues to weigh down his presidency. Trump urged then-FBI Director James Comey in February to drop the bureau’s investigation into Flynn and “let this go,” according to a memo Comey wrote at the time. The conversation, first reported by The New York Times earlier this week, has opened the President up to charges from critics of obstruction of justice.
Trump’s obvious bond with Flynn, like his relationship with Attorney General Jeff Sessions and other top advisers, appears rooted in the fact that they supported his then-longshot presidential campaign last year at a time when most Republicans were ostracizing him.
Trump (or his handlers) going for the “too dumb to be in criminal collusion” defense, I guess. YES PUPPET! YOU’RE A PUPPET!
I repeat: Thanks, Republicans!
@brianstelter @CNN @GloriaBorger @PamelaBrownCNN @jimsciutto @Marshall_Cohen @EricLichtblau Other than Sean Hannity and Jeff Lord, does anyone doubt that Donald Trump has been Vladimir Putin’s useful idiot now?
— SpinDoctor (@SpinDr) May 20, 2017
I don't understand how any intellectually honest person can continue defending @realDonaldTrump at this point.
— Doug Mataconis (@dmataconis) May 20, 2017
This has gone from a witch hunt to a lynch mob
— Dick Morris (@DickMorrisTweet) May 19, 2017
Friday Night Fights Open Thread: No Such Thing As Slow-News Weekends Any More…Post + Comments (189)