Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

FBI Investigated Michael Flynn Over Russia Ties Earlier Than Previously Known

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


CDN – http://www.conservativedailynews.com

By Chuck Ross -

  • Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report revealed new details about the investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn
  • According to the report, the FBI investigated Flynn’s possible ties to Russia earlier than previously known
  • Mueller was also authorized to investigate Flynn over four separate matters.

The FBI was investigating Michael Flynn’s possible relationship with the Russian government much earlier than previously known, the special counsel’s report revealed.

Flynn, who served as President Trump’s national security adviser, was also under investigation for four separate sets of allegations, says the report, which was published on Thursday.

It was already known that Flynn was under investigation over phone calls he had with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak in late December 2016, during the presidential transition period. Flynn pleaded guilty in the special counsel’s investigation on Dec. 1, 2017, for making false statements about those phone calls.

But Mueller’s report reveals for the first time that Flynn was a target of the FBI’s Russia probe before the Kislyak calls.

“Previously, the FBI had opened an investigation of Flynn based on his relationship with the Russian government,” reads the report, which cited FBI interviews given by former Justice Department official Mary McCord and former FBI Director James Comey.

“Flynn’s contacts with Kislyak became a key component of that investigation.”

It is unclear what would have prompted scrutiny of Flynn’s ties to Russia prior to his Kislyak calls.

Flynn was reportedly one of the four Trump associates initially placed under FBI investigation. The bureau opened a counterintelligence investigation, code-named “Crossfire Hurricane,” on July 31, 2016, after receiving a tip from the Australian government regarding Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos.

In congressional testimony in December, Comey said that four individuals were initially placed under investigation. It is still not clear if the file against Flynn was opened at the same time as Papadopoulos’s, or if that happened later.

One area of investigation may have been Flynn’s visit to Moscow in December 2015. The retired lieutenant general was paid $45,000 to attend an event hosted by RT, the Russia-owned news outlet. Flynn sat at the same table as Russian president Vladimir Putin.

It has also been reported that American intelligence authorities were provided a tip regarding Flynn’s interactions back in February 2014 with a Russian-British academic at Cambridge University.

Flynn served as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency at the time of the visit to Cambridge. The event was hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, and Stefan Halper, an academic who has been identified as a longtime FBI and CIA informant. According to The Washington Post, Dearlove and Halper grew concerned with Flynn’s interactions with the Cambridge academic, Svetlana Lokhova. Those concerns were conveyed to American and British intelligence, though it is not certain when that occurred.

Lokhova has pushed back aggressively on reporting that has suggested that anything improper transpired during her interactions with Flynn.

The fact that Flynn was under investigation for four sets of allegations was also not previously known.

According to the Mueller report, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein included the Flynn matters in a memo to the special counsel on Aug. 2, 2017 that authorized various components of the investigation.

Rosenstein authorized Mueller to investigate allegations that Trump campaign associates Carter Page, Paul Manafort and Papadopoulos “committed a crime or crimes by colluding with Russian government officials with respect to the Russian government’s efforts to interfere with the 2016 presidential election.”

Rosenstein also authorized Mueller to investigate Manafort’s Ukraine business activities, as well as whether Papadopoulos was working as an unregistered foreign agent of the Israeli government.

“Four sets of allegations involving Michael Flynn, the former National Security Advisor to President Trump,” were also authorized for investigation, Mueller’s report says.

Manafort was convicted in federal court on charges related to his Ukraine work. But Mueller found no evidence that any of the Trump advisers worked with Russia to influence the election.

In addition to his calls with Kislyak and his false statements to the FBI, it was already known that Flynn was investigated as a possible unregistered foreign agent of the Turkish government. Flynn’s company, Flynn Intel Group, entered a $600,000 contract in August 2016 with a Turkish businessman with close ties to the Turkish government.

The contract was routed through the businessman’s Netherlands-based shell company, as The Daily Caller first reported.

Flynn registered as a foreign agent of Turkey on March 7, 2017. He is expected to testify at the trial of his former business partner, Bijan Kian, who was indicted as an unregistered foreign agent of Turkey. The Turkish businessman, Ekim Alptekin, was also indicted, but he remains in Turkey.

Follow Chuck on Twitter



Click here for reuse options!
Copyright 2019 Daily Caller News Foundation

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected]

FBI Investigated Michael Flynn Over Russia Ties Earlier Than Previously Known is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

CDN – http://www.conservativedailynews.com


Source: https://www.conservativedailynews.com/2019/04/fbi-investigated-michael-flynn-over-russia-ties-earlier-than-previously-known/


Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below!


Order by Phone at 888-809-8385 or online at https://mitocopper.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST

Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomic.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST

Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomics.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST


Humic & Fulvic Trace Minerals Complex - Nature's most important supplement! Vivid Dreams again!

HNEX HydroNano EXtracellular Water - Improve immune system health and reduce inflammation.

Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin - Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much more.

MitoCopper - Bioavailable Copper destroys pathogens and gives you more energy. (See Blood Video)

Oxy Powder - Natural Colon Cleanser!  Cleans out toxic buildup with oxygen!

Nascent Iodine - Promotes detoxification, mental focus and thyroid health.

Smart Meter Cover -  Reduces Smart Meter radiation by 96%! (See Video).

Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.