President Trump furiously insists Flynn's resignation isn't 'the real story' — 'illegal leaks' are


President Donald Trump had been uncharacteristically quiet for the nearly 12 hours since the White House accepted Gen. Michael Flynn's resignation as national security adviser following reports that he had lied to the vice president.
No longer: "The real story here," Trump insisted, "is why there are so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington?"
Trump's tweet comes shortly after Kellyanne Conway made the rounds attempting to explain why the White House did not act to oust Flynn until the allegations against him became public. Three weeks ago, former acting Attorney General Sally Yates had privately warned the Trump White House that she believed Flynn discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador before Trump took office, and that he could be vulnerable to Russian blackmail. The Washington Post first publicized similar accusations Thursday, alleging that Flynn had the conversations with the Russian ambassador and misled Vice President Mike Pence about them.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

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.
After the initial Post report was published, it took Flynn 97 hours to offer his resignation, which he reportedly did without a request from President Trump.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
The politics of punctuation
In the Spotlight Semicolons get the silent treatment; AI makes a dash for dominance
-
Parsifal: Glyndebourne's 'startling' take on Wagner's final opera
The Week Recommends Jetske Mijnssen reimagines the composer's epic last work as a Chekhovian family drama
-
Starlink: what Elon Musk's satellite soft power means for the world
The Explainer The rapid expansion of his satellite internet company has given Musk a unique form of leverage in some of the world's most vulnerable regions
-
Trump twists House GOP arms on megabill
speed read The bill will provide a $350 billion boost to military and anti-immigration spending and 'cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and green energy programs'
-
Trump DOJ said to pay $5M to family of Jan. 6 rioter
speed read The US will pay a hefty sum to the family of Capitol rioter Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot on January 6
-
Trump DOJ charging House Democrat in ICE fracas
speed read Rep. LaMonica McIver is being charged with assault over a clash outside an immigration detention facility in Newark
-
Biden diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer
speed read The diagnosis hits close to home, as the former president 'dedicated much of his later career to cancer research'
-
Supreme Court weighs court limits amid birthright ban
speed read President Trump's bid to abolish birthright citizenship has sparked questions among federal judges about blocking administration policies
-
Gabbard fires intelligence chiefs after Venezuela report
speed read Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has fired the top two officials leading the National Intelligence Council
-
Trump vows to lift Syria sanctions
speed read The move would help the new government stabilize the country following years of civil war
-
Senate rejects Trump's Library of Congress takeover
speed read Congress resisted the president's attempts to control 'the legislative branch's premier research body'