Mike Pence was kept in the dark about the Justice Department's assessment of Michael Flynn
Pete Marovich/Pool via CNP/MediaPunch/IPX
The DOJ's assessment, as reported by The Washington Post on Monday, determined Flynn may be susceptible to blackmail by Russia after he discussed US sanctions against the Kremlin with a Russian ambassador.
Sally Yates, who was deputy attorney general at the time the assessment was compiled, said the nature of Flynn's calls with Russia were "highly significant" and "potentially illegal."
Pence's press secretary, Marc Lotter, told NBC News that Pence was briefed on the DOJ's findings on February 9, while Trump was told two weeks earlier, on January 26. Reasons for the timing gap are unclear.
Pence's briefing happened the same day The Post published a story citing senior US officials who told the newspaper Flynn indeed discussed US sanctions in phone calls with Russian ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, contradicting Flynn's earlier public denials.
That information was revealed after Pence repeated Flynn's denials, citing conversations he had with Flynn, during television interviews in January.
Republicans in Congress are pushing for a full investigation into Flynn's associations with Russia.
- A centenarian who starts her day with gentle exercise and loves walks shares 5 longevity tips, including staying single
- A couple accidentally shipped their cat in an Amazon return package. It arrived safely 6 days later, hundreds of miles away.
- Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
- Having an regional accent can be bad for your interviews, especially an Indian one: study
- Dirty laundry? Major clothing companies like Zara and H&M under scrutiny for allegedly fuelling deforestation in Brazil
- 5 Best places to visit near Darjeeling
- Climate change could become main driver of biodiversity decline by mid-century: Study
- RBI initiates transition plan: Small finance banks to ascend to universal banking status
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market