Top House committee Democrats wrote to the White House counsel Wednesday asking him exactly what he knew about former national security adviser Mike Flynn’s conversation with Russia’s U.S. ambassador and his possible susceptibility to blackmail, and when he knew it.
“These reports raise more than ‘trust’ issues — they also raise significant national security concerns,” the lawmakers wrote White House counsel Don McGahn. “Even in the face of strong warnings and evidence that he was vulnerable to being blackmailed, the White House appears to have considered General Flynn fit to continue serving as the national security adviser. General Flynn continued to receive the nation’s most sensitive and classified information, without any apparent change to accommodate these national security concerns.”
They wrote about reports that the Justice Department shared its concerns about Flynn with McGahn three weeks ago.
They’re asking McGahn to tell them by Feb. 27 when he was first notified about Flynn’s discussions with the Russian ambassador; who he told about the Justice Department warnings; what steps were taken to correct the inaccurate statements, and who, if anyone, directed Flynn to conduct these discussions.
They also want to know how many classified intelligence briefings concerning Russia Flynn heard, and who within the Trump administration has been questioned by the FBI in the matter.
The letter was signed by Reps. John Conyers, Jr., of Michigan, Elijah Cummings of Maryland, Eliot Engel of New York, Adam Schiff of California, Adam Smith of Washington, and Bennie Thompson of Mississippi.
They are top members of the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Government Oversight, Homeland Security, Intelligence and Judiciary committees.
