Flynn told associates on Inauguration Day that Russia sanctions would be 'ripped up'

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn reportedly told a business-associate-turned-whistleblower that President Trump would rip up economic sanctions against Russia as one of his first acts in office, thereby allowing a development project Flynn had once been involved with to move forward, The New York Times reports. The controversial Middle Eastern nuclear plant project once involved Russian companies and was promoted by Flynn throughout his brief White House tenure.

"According to the whistleblower, Gen. Flynn reportedly sent a key communication on Inauguration Day indicating that the project was now 'good to go' and directing his business colleagues to move forward," the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Elijah Cummings (Md.), wrote to the chairman, Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.). The whistleblower contacted Cummings directly, but Cummings said the individual would be willing to speak with Gowdy so long as his or her identity remained protected.

The New York Times adds that "the account ... suggests that Mr. Flynn had a possible economic incentive for the United States to forge a closer relationship with Russia." Last week, Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contact with former Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Read more here.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up