Donald Trump’s National security adviser Michael Flynn resigns
RUSSIA has hit back at the White House after the resignation of Michael Flynn, saying it’s not just paranoia but ‘something worse’.
RUSSIAN politicians have defended President Trump’s national security adviser Michael Flynn who resigned over his contacts with Russia, saying it was “something worse” than paranoia which drove the decision.
Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the foreign affairs committee at the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, said in a post on Facebook that firing a national security adviser for his contacts with Russia is “not just paranoia but something even worse.”
Kosachev’s counterpart at the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, Alexei Pushkov, tweeted shortly after the announcement that “it was not Flynn who was targeted but relations with Russia.”
Mr Flynn resigned on Monday night conceding he gave “incomplete information” about his phone calls with Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. It follows reports he could become a target of Russian blackmail.
The US Army is also reportedly investigating whether Mr Flynn received money from the Russian government during a 2015 trip to Moscow, the New York Times reports.
Mr Flynn was paid to attend the anniversary of Russia Today, a Russian television network controlled by Vladimir Putin.
Mr Flynn, the Times suggests, sat next to Mr Putin himself.
Mr Flynn reportedly blamed his “faulty memory” rather than apologise, the publication claims.
The White House is apparently in such a state over the controversy, “the knives are out”, a White House official told CNN.
“There’s a lot of unhappiness about this.”
President Trump has remained uncharacteristically quiet over the news.
Mr Flynn initially told Trump advisers that he did not discuss sanctions with the Russian ambassador Sergey I. Kislyak during the transition, instead participating in small talk.
Vice President Mike Pence, apparently relying on information from Mr Flynn, publicly vouched for the national security adviser.
“They did not discuss anything having to do with the United States’ decision to expel diplomats or impose censure against Russia,” Pence told CBS News.
But in an embarrassing back down, Mr Flynn later told White House officials that he may have discussed sanctions with the ambassador.
“Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador,” Mr Flynn wrote in his resignation letter.
“I have sincerely apologised to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology.”
Here is Michael Flynn's resignation letter pic.twitter.com/nUAbP2WZZ7
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 14, 2017
Mr Flynn’s departure less than one month into the Trump administration marks an extraordinarily early shake-up in the president’s senior team of advisers.
Mr Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter throughout the campaign, but his ties to Russia caused concern among other senior aides. Despite being one of Trump’s longest serving allies, counselling the President on national security matters since early 2016, it wasn’t enough to keep him in the job.
In fact Mr Flynn was so close to the President, despite the controversy, he spent the weekend with Mr Trump at the president’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and was part of the welcome party for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Politico reports Mr Flynn had been in “full grovelling mode,” in the hope his support of Mr Trump might save his job.
According to the inside source, Flynn’s supporters tried to convince Trump that firing him would “look like an admission he made a mistake.”
Trump has remained tight lipped over the news while press secretary Sean Spicer told media earlier in the day that the President was conferring with Vice President Pence over what to do with their beleaguered adviser.
“The president is evaluating the situation,” White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters.
“He’s getting input, he’s looking at the situation.”
In a resignation letter tweeted by White House correspondents Mr Flynn says he “inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador”.
“In the course of my duties as the incoming National Security Advisor, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors,” Flynn wrote in his resignation letter. “These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the President, his advisers and foreign leaders. Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude.
CNN says General Keith Kellogg has been named acting national security adviser.
AP sources: Justice Department alerted Trump administration about Michael Flynn's contacts with Russia.
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 14, 2017
While Trump may flood the zone with fresh controversies every day, there's just too much to the Trump-Russia story for it to ever go away.
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) February 14, 2017
This is pretty much how long #MichaelFlynn lasted as Trump's national security adviser: pic.twitter.com/KaqdatmGvW
— hellresidentNY (@hellresidentNY) February 14, 2017
‘Historic betrayal’: Europe reacts with horror
Europe, having digested Donald Trump’s proposed peace terms between Russia and Ukraine, is accusing him of “betraying” the free world.
Albo’s $1.2bn pledge amid tariff threat
The Albanese government will invest $1.2bn into Australia’s critical minerals supply, which will likely play a major role in negotiating a tariff carveout from the Trump administration.
Ominous sign: US axes Ukraine peace talks
The US has threatened again to “walk away” from peace in Ukraine and has abandoned key talks after Kyiv objected to a new proposal.