Politics

Flynn Resigns From NSC After Misleading VP On Russia Sanctions Call

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National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned Monday amid accusations he misled Vice President Mike Pence about a call he had with the Russian ambassador, in which he reportedly discussed sanctions levied against Moscow.

White House sources told Bloomberg reporter Jennifer Jacobs the news Monday evening.

A White House statement released Monday confirmed that President Donald Trump was evaluating the situation and speaking to the vice president about the candid conversation that Pence had with Flynn.

“The president is evaluating the situation,” White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said. “He is speaking to Vice President relative to the conversation the VP had with general Flynn and also speaking to various other people about what he considers he single most important subject there is – our national security. ”

Pence went to bat for Flynn and directly told the press that the now-former national security adviser had not spoken to Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

But a U.S. official told CNN Friday that Flynn had indeed spoken to Kislyak about sanctions in December before Trump’s inauguration. And an unnamed aide later told CNN that it’s possible that sanctions were a topic discussed during that call, which could run afoul of laws prohibiting private citizens from conducting foreign policy.

Flynn has apologized to Pence, but it has not appeared to be enough to save his position.

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