Michael Flynn reportedly told Donald Trump and his transition team he was under investigation weeks before the president moved into the White House.
The New York Times reports Flynn himself told the Trump camp: ‘he was under federal investigation for secretly working as a paid lobbyist for Turkey during the campaign’.
The Times claims two people familiar with the Flynn case told the former national security adviser he was being investigated. The 58-year-old reportedly then informed Trump’s chief lawyer, Donald McGahn, on January 4.
Flynn, according to the newspaper, had another conversation with lawyers on the transition team two days later.
Those reported conversations, if true, would prove Trump and his team knew about the investigation into Flynn well before it has been reported up until now.
The news comes after former acting Attorney General Sally Yates testified before Congress last week she had told McGahn Flynn ‘likely could be blackmailed by the Russians.’
Yates had warned the White House Flynn had lied to Vice President Mike Pence on discussing sanctions with the Russian ambassador, and Pence subsequently made public statements repeating those untruths.
Flynn was fired just 24 days into his job, but he time with the White House has had a lingering impact.
After he was sacked, Trump reportedly tried to get former FBI Director James Comey to drop the investigation into the ex-general.
Comey did not. He was controversially fired by the president on May 9.
It was also reported by CNN this month President Barack Obama warned Trump against hiring Flynn during a face-to-face meeting in November.
The Times reports the White House would not comment on whether it was aware of Flynn’s legal status prior to January’s inauguration.
Source: Donald Trump’s team knew Flynn was under investigation | Daily Mail Online
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