Eighteen days lapsed between January 26th, when Acting Attorney General Sally Yates warned the White House that the National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was believed to be compromised by the Russians, and February 14th when he was fired.
“It is unthinkable that the White House carried on for eighteen days while the National Security Adviser was considered compromised by the Russians and a known blackmail risk,” said American Bridge Rapid Response Director Emily Aden. “Michael Flynn shouldn’t have been allowed anywhere near the classified intelligence briefings he delivered to the President, not to mention sitting in the Oval Office when President Trump called Putin. These eighteen days are nothing short of a White House cover up orchestrated at the highest possible level.”
Despite being warned by Sally Yates, for eighteen days the White House did nothing about this national security risk. Here’s what happened while Michael Flynn remained National Security Adviser:
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Flynn gave President Trump his daily intelligence briefing at least eight times
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Flynn sat in the Oval Office while President Trump called five foreign leaders including Vladimir Putin
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Flynn had a private lunch with President Trump on February 3rd
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President Trump ordered Yemen raid over dinner attended by Flynn
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Briefed President Trump in open-air situation room at Mar-a-Lago about North Korea missile launch
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President Trump called the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and discussed the ongoing border conflict with Russia
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President Trump called the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has ties to a firm represented by Flynn’s lobbying group immediately before and after the election
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President Trump restructured the National Security Counsel
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President Trump hosted British Prime Minister Theresa May, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
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President Trump called fifteen other foreign leaders
[AP Photo of President Trump calling Putin, 1/28/17]
Published: May 9, 2017