The resignation of Mike Flynn as President Trump’s national security adviser is the “canary in the coal mine” of the administration’s links to the Russian government, a Democratic congressman said Tuesday.
Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan said Flynn’s contact with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak and subsequent lies to Vice President Mike Pence about those calls is a major warning that something isn’t right in the White House.
“This is the pulling of the first string,” Ryan said. “We don’t know how it’s going to unravel, but I think this is the canary in the coal mine of Trump’s relationships to Russia, Flynn’s relationship to Russia.”
Flynn resigned Monday night after pressure was mounting on him over reports that he talked about President Obama’s sanctions on Russia with Kislyak in a phone call before Trump took office. The impression given to American spies listening in on the call was that Flynn was alluding to the sanctions possibly being lifted once Trump came into office.
Ryan said Flynn’s resignation is a troubling sign of chaos in an administration quickly becoming known for its lack of stability.
“I don’t think anybody knows (how to steady the ship),” Ryan said. “I think they have a bunch of politicians and political people in the White House. They don’t have anything … about having a rigorous process, about controlling information flows.”
He added, “I have no idea how they’re going to rectify it other than bring in a real professional.”
