WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on ousted national security adviser Michael Flynn (all times local):
2:50 p.m.
President Donald Trump won’t answer new questions about ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.
Trump ignored questions throughout the day Thursday on news that the Pentagon’s acting inspector general has launched a probe of Flynn’s work on behalf of foreign interests.
That includes work for RT, the state-supported Russian television network, and a company linked to Turkey’s government.
Asked whether he regretted hiring Flynn, Trump dismissed journalists from the Oval Office by saying, “Thank you very much.”
Trump previously praised Flynn as “a wonderful man” and at one point blamed the media for his decision to oust Flynn.
The White House has said Flynn was ousted for misleading the vice president about contact with the Russian ambassador.
___
2:30 p.m.
An attorney for ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn says a newly released letter shows Flynn was forthcoming with U.S. military officials about a trip he took to Moscow to attend a gala for a Russian state-sponsored television network.
The letter was released Thursday by Congressman Elijah Cummings of Maryland, who serves on the House Oversight Committee. It’s from the Defense Intelligence Agency, which Flynn headed until 2014.
The letter notes that Flynn provided a thumb drive to the Defense Intelligence Agency ahead of his 2015 trip. Flynn attorney Robert Kelner says the drive contains documents showing that Flynn was using a speakers bureau for the trip, implying it was a paid engagement.
Kelner is calling for public release of the documents on the thumb drive.
___
1:55 p.m.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer is calling an inquiry into former national security adviser Michael Flynn “appropriate.” The Pentagon’s acting inspector general has begun an inquiry into Flynn, the retired Army officer who was President Trump’s first national security adviser.
Spicer says the administration welcomes the inquiry announced Thursday by Maryland Democratic congressman Elijah Cummings.
The probe is of payments received by Flynn from Russia’s state-sponsored RT television network and a Turkish-owned company linked to Turkey’s government, and whether they qualify as coming from foreign governments, and whether Flynn properly informed military authorities about them.
Spicer adds that Trump “made the right call at the right time, and it’s clearly paid off” when he decided in February to fire Flynn from the sensitive national security post.
And Spicer says that Flynn’s security clearance was handled by the Obama administration.
___
10:25 a.m.
Documents released by lawmakers show President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was warned when he retired from the military in 2014 not to take foreign money without “advance approval” by Pentagon authorities.
Also, the Defense Department inspector general’s office confirms in a separate document that it is investigating whether Flynn failed to obtain prior approval.
The chairman and senior Democrat on the House Oversight Committee say they want the Army to rule on whether Flynn informed and asked permission for the payments from Russian and Turkish entities.
Flynn earned tens of thousands of dollars from Russia’s state-sponsored RT television network and from a Turkish businessman linked to Turkey’s government.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.