Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn reportedly met with FBI investigators probing his communication with Russian officials without the knowledge of President Donald Trump or other members of his administration.
NBC News reports that Flynn spoke with the FBI investigators on Jan. 24, 2016 without a lawyer in his West Wing office. Trump was unaware of the meeting until two days later.
“No one knew that any of this was happening,” a White House official told the news outlet.
Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe reportedly set up the meeting. McCabe has come under fire from Trump several times in recent weeks. Attorney General Jeff Sessions also reportedly told newly-appointed FBI Director Christopher Wray to get a “fresh start” by replacing McCabe.
White House counsel Don McGahn was the first to learn of Flynn’s meeting with the FBI when former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates told him the national security adviser had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his conversations with a Russian ambassador and that Flynn could be susceptible to Russian blackmail.
Flynn was fired as national security adviser after 24 days on the job, 20 days after the interview.
Late last year, Flynn pled guilty to lying to the FBI about his communication with Russian officials as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller‘s sprawling probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The investigation includes looking into possible ties between Trump’s campaign and the country and whether Trump obstructed justice by firing former FBI Director James Comey.
The former national security adviser is reportedly working with Mueller’s team.
You can read all of NBC News’ report here.
