President Trump’s national security adviser had a private discussion in December about lifting sanctions against Russia with its ambassador to the United States, despite repeated denials that he had broached the delicate subject, it was reported Thursday.
Before Trump took office and named Michael Flynn to the post, the former general spoke with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak about the sanctions imposed by President Barack Obama because of Moscow’s cyber-hacking efforts to influence the US presidential election, according to the Washington Post.
After the discussions, Flynn left the Russian with “the impression that the sanctions would be revisited at a later time,” the paper said.
A spokesman for Flynn told the Washington Post on Thursday that, although his boss had indicated having no recollection of discussing the sanctions, Flynn couldn’t be certain they did not come up.
At issue is whether Flynn violated a law against unauthorized private citizens interfering in any US disputes with foreign governments.