From the WaPo:
A senior Trump administration official said that the White House was aware of the matter, adding that “we’ve been working on this for weeks.”
The current and former officials said that although they believed that Pence was misled about the contents of Flynn’s communications with the Russian ambassador, they couldn’t rule out that Flynn was acting with the knowledge of others in the transition.
David Gergen:
“What is missing from the story so far is the president of the United States. Wh[at] did he know and when did he know it,” Gergen said, invoking former Sen Howard Baker’s comment that opened the gates for Nixon’s resignation in the face of impeachment.
“If they had a report to the legal counsel, the general counsel would have presumably reported to the president, why is Flynn still there?” Gergen continued. “It’s unimaginable that the White House general counsel would sit on it, not tell anybody else in the White House. In every White House I’ve ever been in, this would go to the president like that,” he said as he snapped his fingers.
“This is very serious stuff. If you’re told that your national security adviser is potentially vulnerable to blackmail by the Russians, that is extremely serious,” he concluded.
22 comments:
The spin will start quick. Trump fires people who lie.
The guy who screamed "LOCK HER UP!" at the RNC convention just 7 months ago is now GONE from Lord Dampnut's chaotic administration because of the possibility that he did something highly illegal!
Karma is a beyotch, innit, Flynn?
When do the Congressional investigations start.
This could be even bigger than Benghazi,Benghazi,Benghazi but in true hypocritical fashion, the Rethugs are going to try to cover up. Dems should be screaming for hearings.
Meanwhile, President Happy Hands is presiding over a dysfunctional administration.
The palace intrigues must be Game of Thrones quality.
He was the best Trump could get. How long will Mr. Second Best last?
"Trump fires people who lie."
If that's true, He should be firing himself soon.
National Security Adviser out in just 3 weeks. He lied to the veep. Met with the Ruskies. What did he say to them, promise them? Big, big scandal.
What an incompetent, chaotic administration. And Trump's supporters thought he was such a fabulous businessman, he'd make a terrific preznit? So far, he's a disaster. Believe me.
Garry Kasparov explains how to stop Trump: Make him look like a ‘loser’ until GOP turns on him
Does this give you confidence in how well Lord Dampnut and his administration is running the country?:
Trump himself is remarkably sloppy with sensitive national security information. For example, on Saturday night he discussed North Korea’s latest missile launch on a mobile phone at his table in the middle of Mar-a-Lago’s private club’s dining area, within earshot of private club members. A guest at the club even posed with the military aide who carries “the football” (the briefcase containing instructions for authorizing a nuclear attack).
The U.S. intelligence community is so convinced that Trump and his administration have been compromised by Russia that they’re no longer giving the White House all of their most sensitive information, lest it end up in Putin’s hands.
A senior National Security Agency official says the agency is systematically holding back some of the “good stuff” from the White House, fearing Trump and his staff can’t keep secrets. The intelligence community is concerned that even the Situation Room—the room in the West Wing where the president and his top staffers get intelligence briefings—has been compromised by Russia.
SOURCE
The stench of Republican hypocrisy gets worse by the minute. I do not believe congressional Republicans will take any action until such time they come to see Donald Trump as a threat to their own reelection chances. Then, they might do the right thing, even if it is for the wrong reason.
ORAXX
Some Americans voted for Trump because they thought him a "tough businessman" who'd impose discipline on government. The truth is just the opposite. His White House is a total mess.
Gives me about as much confidence as a president who knew his AG sold guns that killed a LEO or one who was sexually harassing a young supporter or covering up a break-in.
At least action was taken and it was not just a line in the sand.
He will be attacked for the next four to eight years and then the MSM can attack the next republican president.
Can't say he doesn't have a transparent administration because he can't shut up.
@shaw --- The intelligence community is concerned that even the Situation Room ... has been compromised by Russia.
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You mean allowing Steve Bannon to sit in might not be a great idea.
Meanwhile, Sean Spicer's presser did little to answer the question of what President Happy Hands knew and when.
Hoping the press senses a blood trail.
Ducky, the congressional Democrats have to keep the pressure on for investigations into this scandal. They need to call their reps and senators and tell them we demand to know what Flynn told the Russians. This stinks to high heaven.
Spicer was all over the place during the presser. I didn't believe a word he said.
Three weeks into Trumplandia shows America and the world what an incompetent, bungling president Lord Dampnut is.
skudrunner, we feel your pain.
Trump's turned out to be an extraordinarily incompetent president, and we're only 3 weeks into his Keystone Kops presidency.
I imagine Putin and his thugs are have a jolly laugh for themselves.
Joan, "total mess" is exactly what we have in DC.
ORAXX, the Repugs investigated Hillary 6 ways to Sunday, but a national security advisor lying to the veep and visiting Russia before the new administration was sworn in is nothing to worry about. It's all normal to the hypocrites on the right.
Senator Elizabeth Warren:
“Michael Flynn’s blinding religious hatred and shady Russian ties disqualified him as National Security Adviser on day one. His removal is a win for American values. But American national security demands that we not allow Michael Flynn to become a scapegoat for this Administration’s disturbing ties to Russia.”
“This isn’t a game. Reports say the Russians conducted a series of successful cyber-attacks on our elections to help elect Donald Trump. Reports say our own intelligence agencies have corroborated parts of a dossier alleging that Russia has compromising information about Donald Trump. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has close ties to Putin. Commerce Secretary nominee Wilbur Ross has close financial ties to Putin buddies. Donald Trump is still making money overseas and may have financial ties to Russia. Nobody knows since he STILL won’t release his taxes.”
“This. Is. Not. Normal. President Trump owes the American people a full account of his Administration’s dealings with Russia, both before and after the election. When did the White House know that Flynn lied? What other contacts with Russia occurred during the campaign? Who knew what? Who approved what?”
“Congress must pull its head out of the sand and launch a real, bipartisan, transparent inquiry into Russia. Our national security is at stake.”
@shaw -- the congressional Democrats have to keep the pressure on for investigations into this scandal.
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"In a series of tweets posted in the wake of national security adviser Michael Flynn’s resignation, Massachusetts US Senator Elizabeth Warren called for a bipartisan inquiry into the Trump administration’s contacts with Russia, saying national security was at stake."
Nasty woman. Wonder if Mitch can shut her down this time.
Today, at Sean Spicer's presser:'
Trump’s press secretary just called Justin Trudeau ‘Prime Minister Joe Trudeau of Canada’
“Yesterday the president set — had an incredibly productive set of meetings and discussions with Prime Minster Joe Trudeau of Canada,” Sean Spicer said at the White House on Tuesday.
JOE Trudeau?
Keystone Kops!
Drudge is running a story that blames President Obama for Flynn's departure. LOL!
Of course it's BS, but if Obama was the cause, then good or him. I hope he can get rid of more of the swamp occupiers.
Digby:
If Hillary Clinton had done one tenth of what Mr. Flynn had done, she likely would be in jail.
And it isn't just Mr. Flynn, how far does this go?
The White House has no credibility on this issue. Their spigot of lies-- can't we finally all agree to call them lies-- long ago lost them any semblance of credibility. I would also extend that to the Republican Congress, who has excused away the Trump Administration's assertions for far too long.
We need an independent investigation. Damn the lies, full throttle forward on the truth.
CROOKED TRUMP PRESIDENCY.
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