In the wake of a new Pentagon investigation of retired Gen. Michael Flynn receiving payment from foreign governments, the White House said Thursday that President Trump “made the right call at the right time” in firing Mr. Flynn as his national security adviser.
White House Sean Spicer said the probe by the Defense Department’s inspector general of Mr. Flynn is “appropriate.”
“If they think there’s wrongdoing, then the department’s inspector general should look into that,” Mr. Spicer said.
Mr. Trump fired Mr. Flynn as his national security adviser in February after White House officials learned that he misled Vice President Mike Pence about the extent of his contacts with Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. during the presidential transition.
“I think the president made the right call at the right time,” Mr. Spicer said.
The Pentagon’s IG is looking into Mr. Flynn receiving payments from foreign governments and foreign entities after he retired from the Army in 2014, including the RT television network linked to the Russian government. He was advised by the military not to accept such payments.
Mr. Spicer also noted that Mr. Flynn received his security clearance renewal during the Obama administration in the spring of 2016, “apparently with knowledge” of his trip to Russia in late 2015.
He said he wasn’t accusing the Obama administration of wrongdoing, but added, “I’m just making sure people understand the process and how it works.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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