It’s being reported this morning that Trump’s National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, did not make any promise to the Russian ambassador that Trump would lift sanctions once he got into office. Rather the transcripts show a more general discussion of relations between Russia and the US improving under Trump:
From @WSJ: Mike Flynn’s Position as National Security Adviser Grows Tenuous in White House. pic.twitter.com/BwOVq9O4el
— Byron York (@ByronYork) February 13, 2017
The Kremlin is also pushing back this morning, saying that their ambassador and Flynn never discussed lifting sanctions:
BREAKING: Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russian ambassador to Washington did not discuss lifting sanctions – Kremlin
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) February 13, 2017
REUTERS – The new U.S. administration is under pressure over Russia however because Michael Flynn, Trump’s national security adviser, is struggling to get past a controversy over a call he had with the Russian ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak before Trump took office.
Top White House officials have been reviewing over the weekend Flynn’s contacts and whether he discussed the possibility of lifting U.S. sanctions on Russia once Trump took office, which could potentially be in violation of a law banning private citizens from engaging in foreign policy.
When asked about it on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters that Flynn and Kislyak had not discussed lifting sanctions on Moscow.
“Obviously every ambassador informs the centre (Moscow) about all the contacts he has so the information gets to us, but we are not willing to comment on internal discussions being held in Washington,” Peskov said.
Asked if there had been talks between any Russian and U.S. representatives on easing sanctions, Peskov said: “We have already said there have not been any (such talks)”.
CBS News is reporting today that Flynn’s job could be in trouble for not telling the whole truth during the transition and embarrassing Pence:
So we’ll see what comes of this when Trump and/or the White House decides to weigh in on this publically. I’m sure they will get asked about it today and we’ll bring that to you if they do.