National Security Advisor Mike Flynn officially resigned from his post on Feb. 13 after admitting to have misled Vice President Mike Pence about discussing sanctions with Russia. The New York Times reported that Flynn apologized in his resignation letter, writing, “Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador.”
The FBI investigated the phone calls Flynn had with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Presidential elections. Flynn’s phone calls took place after Former President Barak Obama placed sanctions on Russia for “stealing and leaking the private e-mails of senior officials in the Clinton campaign and Democratic Party,” according to The Economist. The report further said that Flynn had been fired by Obama as the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency due to “insubordination.”
According to CNN, President Donald Trump had been notified on Jan. 28 that “the Justice Department had concerns about Flynn’s conduct,” while Pence came to know almost two weeks later on Feb. 9. Although Press Secretary Sean Spicer in the press release on Feb. 14 mentioned that Trump’s trust in Flynn had “eroded,” Trump tweeted on Feb 15 that “Gen. Flynn is a wonderful man” who has been treated “very, very unfairly by the media.”
The post of the National Security Advisor has been temporarily held by Keith Kellogg, a retired Lieutenant General. The Economist mentions David Petraeus, former director of the CIA to be a possible candidate for the new national security advisor. NBC’s Pete Williams said that the FBI doesn’t believe Flynn will face legal jeopardy. One possible problem for Flynn is if he lied to FBI agents. “But the people Williams spoke with don’t believe this will be a problem,” NBC News said.
“I am tendering my resignation, honored to have served our nation and the American people in such a distinguished way,” Flynn said as he ended his 24 days of service as the national security advisor.