Washington, D.C. – Today, Reps. Adam Smith, Elijah E. Cummings, John Conyers, Jr., Eliot L. Engel, Bennie G. Thompson, and Adam Schiff, Ranking Members of the House Committees on Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform, Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, and Intelligence, sent a letter to White House Counsel Donald F. McGahn, II raising grave concerns and requesting information about reports that Department of Justice officials warned him three weeks ago that Lt. General Michael Flynn made false statements about his communications with the Russian Ambassador and that he was potentially susceptible to blackmail by the Russian government.
“These reports raise more than ‘trust’ issues—they also raise significant national security concerns,” the Members wrote. “Even in the face of strong warnings and evidence that he was vulnerable to being blackmailed, the White House appears to have considered General Flynn fit to continue serving as the National Security Advisor. General Flynn continued to receive the nation’s most sensitive and classified information, without any apparent change to accommodate these national security concerns.”
The Members requested information from McGahn by February 28, 2017, including when he was first notified about General Flynn’s December 2016 discussions with the Russian Ambassador, who he told about these warnings, what steps were taken to correct the inaccurate statements, and who, if anyone, directed Flynn to conduct these discussions. In addition, they asked how many classified intelligence briefings involving Russia General Flynn attended as the National Security Advisor and what steps were taken to suspend, isolate, or otherwise minimize his access to classified information or policy discussions related to Russia after this issue came to light. They also asked if General Flynn reported that he had been interviewed by the FBI, and whether any other White House officials had been interviewed.
Click here and see below to read the letter.
February 15, 2017
Donald F. McGahn, II
White House Counsel
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
Dear Mr. McGahn:
We are writing in response to the shocking reports last night that Department of Justice officials warned you three weeks ago that Lt. General Michael Flynn made false statements about his communications with the Russian Ambassador to Vice President-elect Pence, other White House officials, and the American people and that he was potentially susceptible to blackmail by the Russian government.
These reports raise grave concerns about the honesty and integrity of White House officials with the public. The National Security Advisor provided false information to the public, which was then repeated by several senior White House officials. Even after learning that this information was inaccurate, no White House officials corrected those falsehoods.
These reports raise more than “trust” issues—they also raise significant national security concerns. The President’s National Security Advisor reportedly had secret discussions with Russian officials both during the campaign and after the election. General Flynn’s communications with the Russians about the sanctions during the transition potentially violated the Logan Act, and his acceptance of payments to travel to Moscow and celebrate Russia’s main propaganda outlet with Vladimir Putin in 2015 potentially violated the Constitution.
Moreover, even in the face of strong warnings and evidence that he was vulnerable to being blackmailed, the White House appears to have considered General Flynn fit to continue serving as the National Security Advisor. General Flynn continued to receive the nation’s most sensitive and classified information, without any apparent change to accommodate these national security concerns.
Kellyanne Conway confirmed on the Today Show this morning, “The fact is that General Flynn continued in that position and was in the presidential daily briefings, was part of the leader calls as recently as yesterday.”
It is unclear if the White House would have made any changes or shared any of this information with the public if it had not been revealed publicly in the press.
Over the weekend, the President and the White House remained silent in the face of increasingly vocal calls for more information. As late as 5 p.m. on Monday, Ms. Conway told the press that General Flynn had the “full confidence of the President.”
In order to obtain a complete and accurate account of the White House’s response to the extremely serious allegations against General Flynn, we request that you provide the following information by February 28, 2017:
1. When were you first notified about General Flynn’s December 2016 discussions with the Russian Ambassador about U.S. sanctions and the potential that General Flynn could be subject to blackmail? Who notified you?
2. Who did you tell about these warnings, and when did you tell them?
3. What steps, if any, did you or any other White House official take to correct the inaccurate statements that the White House had made to the public?
4. What steps did you or any other White House official take to suspend, isolate, or otherwise minimize General Flynn’s access to classified information or policy discussions related to Russia after receiving the warning from the Department of Justice?
5. How many classified intelligence briefings involving matters related to Russia did General Flynn attend as the National Security Advisor? How many classified intelligence products involving matters related to Russia did General Flynn receive as the National Security Advisor?
6. When did the President lose confidence and trust in General Flynn, and what was the preceding cause?
7. What potential disciplinary actions for General Flynn, if any, did you or anyone else in the Trump Administration discuss for misleading Vice President Pence and other White House officials?
8. Was the President or anyone else in the Trump Administration aware that General Flynn discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador before January 26, 2017? Did anyone in the Trump Administration direct General Flynn to conduct these discussions?
9. Did Lt. General Joseph Keith Kellogg, Jr., K.T. McFarland, or anyone else in the National Security Council know about occurrence and/or the content of General Flynn’s conversations with the Russians? If so, did they inform any of their superiors?
10. Did anyone consult with or advise the President-Elect in any way on public messages he posted on his Twitter Account praising Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 30, 2016 —one day after several phone calls were placed between General Flynn and the Russian Ambassador?
11. When did you complete your legal analysis or review of the matter related to Flynn? Did you consult with the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel regarding your analysis?
12. Did you or any other White House official review the transcripts of the calls between General Flynn and the Russian Ambassador? If so, who conducted the review and for calls on what dates?
13. Did General Flynn report the fact that he had been interviewed by the FBI to you or anyone else in the White House? Were you aware that General Flynn had been interviewed by the FBI?
14. Have any other White House officials been interviewed by the FBI? If so, who was interviewed and on what date?
15. Were you involved in any adjudication analysis or decision regarding General Flynn’s security clearance? If you were not, please identify who in the White House was involved.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
________________________ ________________________
Rep. Elijah E. Cummings Rep. John Conyers
Ranking Member Ranking Member
House Committee on Oversight and House Committee on the Judiciary
Government Reform
________________________ ________________________
Adam Smith Bennie G. Thompson
Ranking Member Ranking Member
Committee on Armed Services Committee on Homeland Security
________________________ ________________________
Adam Schiff Eliot L. Engel
Ranking Member Ranking Member
Permanent Select Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Intelligence
cc. The Honorable Jason Chaffetz, Chairman
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
The Honorable Bob Goodlatte, Chairman
House Committee on the Judiciary
The Honorable Mac Thornberry, Chairman
Committee on Armed Services
The Honorable Michael McCaul, Chairman
Committee on Homeland Security
The Honorable Devin Nunes, Chairman
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
The Honorable Ed Royce, Chairman
Committee on Foreign Affairs