House Democrats Launch Investigation of Michael Flynn’s Russian Connection
House Democrats are launching an investigation into whether Donald Trump’s national security adviser violated the Constitution when he accepted a paid speaking gig in Russia after retiring from the military.
Ranking Democrats on six House committees are asking the Pentagon to determine whether the adviser, Mike Flynn, violated the Constitution’s emoluments clause when he was paid to speak at an event in Moscow celebrating the Russian-funded news outlet RT.
Congressional Democrats are alleging that Michael Flynn, Trump’s controversial national security adviser, may have violated the Constitution when he delivered a paid speech in Russia and dined with Vladimir Putin in 2015.
And now Democrats are demanding an investigation of Flynn’s Russian connection.
They made their request for an investigation in a letter that was signed by top Democrats on the House Oversight, Armed Services, Judiciary, Homeland Security, Intelligence, and Foreign Affairs committees.
Democrats are focusing on a trip to Russia that Flynn took in December 2015. Mr. Flynn attended a 10th anniversary gala celebration for RT, the Russian propaganda news outlet owned by the Russian government.
And at the event, Flynn appeared on a speaking panel and then sat next to Putin during dinner. Flynn retired from the military prior to the trip, but Democratic are concerned that he may still have been covered by the Emoluments Clause.
A Defense Department white paper notes that even retired officers are subject to the Emoluments Clause: “Significantly, retired regular military officers are also subject to the Emoluments Clause because they are subject to recall, and, therefore, hold an ‘Office of Profit or Trust’ under the Emoluments Clause.”
The Democrats also sent the letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis asking for an investigation, including an examination of communications between Flynn and RT, as well as the details of how much he was paid.
