Russian
officials bragged in conversations during the presidential campaign
that they had cultivated a strong relationship with former Trump adviser
retired Gen. Michael Flynn and believed they could use him to influence
Donald Trump and his team, sources told CNN.
officials bragged in conversations during the presidential campaign
that they had cultivated a strong relationship with former Trump adviser
retired Gen. Michael Flynn and believed they could use him to influence
Donald Trump and his team, sources told CNN.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Donate to Precision
