Flynn, Kushner Met With Russian Ambassador At Trump Tower In December: Report
Donald Trump disgraced former national security adviser had a previously undisclosed meeting with the Russian Ambassador at Trump Tower, the New York Times is reporting.
The White House confirmed to the Times that Michael Flynn and Donald Trump’s son-in-law had a meeting with the Russian ambassador at Trump Tower in December.
As the New York Times said, “It is common and not improper for transition officials to meet with foreign officials. But all meetings between Trump associates and Russians are now significant as the F.B.I. investigates Russian interference in the American election and whether anyone close to Mr. Trump’s campaign was involved.”
The Times went on to say, “What is now becoming clear is that the incoming Trump administration was simultaneously striking a conciliatory pose toward Moscow in a series of meetings and phone calls involving Mr. Kislyak.”
The Trump team initially said that Flynn’s communications with Kislyak was only over text and phone at the end of December and that they were friendly conversations wishing each other a Merry Christmas. However, news reports quickly emerged confirming that Flynn had lied about the nature of their conversations and that in fact the two discussed sanctions that then President Obama was getting ready to place on Russia.
The New York Times also reported that “American officials have also said that there were multiple telephone calls between Mr. Flynn and Mr. Kislyak on Dec. 29, beginning shortly after Mr. Kislyak was summoned to the State Department and informed that, in retaliation for Russian election meddling, the United States was expelling 35 people suspected of being Russian intelligence operatives and imposing other sanctions.”
The Russian ambassador was reportedly “irate and threatened a forceful Russian response, according to people familiar with the exchange.”
But then he had a few phone calls with Michael Flynn who reportedly assured him that the Trump administration would be much more friendly.
And suddenly the Russian response from Putin was not to retaliate against the U.S. for the new sanctions.
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