Report: FBI Interviewed Flynn Shortly After Trump’s Inauguration

The New York Times reported that FBI agents interviewed former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn in the first days of the Trump administration about his conversations with the Russian ambassador, current and former officials said on Tuesday.

“The interview raises the stakes of what so far has been a political scandal that cost Mr. Flynn his job,” explains the NY Times. “If he was not entirely honest with the F.B.I., it could expose Mr. Flynn to a felony charge.”

Shortly after the FBI interview, the acting Attorney General Sally Yates told the White House that Flynn was vulnerable to Russian blackmail. But then Trump fired her when she spoke out against his Muslim-ban.

And it gets worse – White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said that Trump was made aware of the situation weeks ago. Yes, weeks ago. Spicer said the White House had reviewed the situation and determined that Flynn didn’t violate any laws during his call with the Russian ambassador.

Spicer added that Flynn was asked to resign because he had lost the trust of the president and vice president.

The New York Times report went on to note, “shortly after the F.B.I. interview, on Jan. 26, the acting attorney general, Sally Q. Yates, told the White House that Mr. Flynn was vulnerable to Russian blackmail because of inconsistencies between what he had said publicly and what intelligence officials knew to be true.”
The Times went on to say, “At issue is a conversation during the presidential transition in which Mr. Flynn spoke to the Russian ambassador about sanctions levied against Russia by the Obama administration. The call spurred an investigation by the F.B.I. into whether Mr. Flynn had violated the Logan Act, which prohibits private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments in disputes with the United States.”