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Former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn leaves federal court on Dec. 1, 2017. He was the first Trump White House official to plead guilty in the special counsel investigation led by Robert Mueller. (AP/Susan Walsh)
How to make sense of Michael Flynn's contradictions? He was one of the most distinguished military intelligence officers in a generation. Now he’s the shortest-lived national security adviser in American history after loose-lipped talk with the Russian ambassador to the United States.
It's too soon to know how history will judge Flynn, an accomplished soldier under the microscope for ties to Russian and Turkish interests.
What's certain is before his foray into politics, Flynn had a distinguished 33-year Army career that included top-level intelligence posts and promotion to the rank of three-star general. Perhaps his greatest achievement in uniform was helping transform Special Operations forces into what's been described as "history's most lethal terrorist-hunting network."
Flynn was considered a maverick who sometimes pursued unworkable proposals, and whose chaotic management style and blunt talk rubbed some the wrong way. He retired forcibly at age 55 after President Barack Obama ousted him as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon’s CIA.
After Flynn left the military he gained the attention of several Republican candidates who sought his counsel — including Donald Trump, who tapped Flynn as his national security adviser over warnings from the previous administration.
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Twenty-four days later, Flynn resigned.
Since then, Flynn pled guilty to lying to the FBI, and has emerged as a key cooperating witness in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference, and possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Moscow.
The following timeline, based on news reports, aims to help make sense of the swirling events that precipitated Flynn’s fall, and what’s emerged since.
Have feedback or questions? Email us.
June 2013: Flynn travels to Moscow, visits Russian military intelligence headquarters
Flynn, then-director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, traveled to Moscow on a trip coordinated in part by Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. (Washington Post). In a rare move for a DIA director, Flynn visited the headquarters of Russia’s military intelligence directorate, the GRU.
Aug. 7, 2014: Flynn leaves military after being forced out as head of Pentagon intelligence agency
Flynn retires a year ahead of schedule at the DIA. Flynn said he dissented against the Obama administration's passivity on terrorism. He believed intelligence reports were being watered down and chafed when Obama dismissed ISIS as a "JV team." In an ironic twist, one day after Flynn’s involuntary retirement in fall 2014, Obama announced the United States had begun a bombing campaign against ISIS that would prove to extend beyond his presidency.
Some members of the Washington national security coterie speculate Flynn’s anger over what he sees as an unjust end to his military career explains why he would later fall in line behind Trump and his iconoclastic national security approach. (Washington Post, Politico)
Oct. 8, 2014: DIA lawyers send memo to Flynn outlining legal obligations as retired Army officer
At Flynn’s request, lawyers at DIA sent a legal memo outlining legal and ethical restrictions applying to Flynn in retirement, including disclosure requirements. (PDF)
Feb. 8, 2015: Flynn appears on Fox News, gains attention of Republican candidates
Flynn began appearing on Fox News, which eventually led five Republican presidential candidates, including Trump, to seek his counsel. Fox became a platform for Flynn to criticize the Obama administration and sound the alarm about radical Islamic terrorists "threatening our way of life." (Fox News Sunday)
June 16, 2015: Donald Trump announces candidacy for president
August 2015: Flynn meets, briefs Trump ahead of Republican primary debate
Flynn found a sympathetic audience in Donald Trump, and began briefing the candidate on foreign policy matters. (Politico, The New Yorker)
Dec. 10, 2015: Flynn dines with Vladimir Putin at RT gala in Moscow
Flynn accepts $33,750 to speak about U.S. foreign policy at a conference in Moscow, where he also sat beside Russian President Vladimir Putin at a gala for the Kremlin-influenced RT (formerly Russia Today). (Politico, Wall Street Journal)
Feb. 26, 2016: Flynn begins acting as an adviser to Trump (Reuters)
July 2016: Flynn vetted as possible Trump vice president pick (New York Post, ABC)
July 15, 2016: Flynn signals support for an attempted coup against Turkish President Recep Erdogan (YouTube)
Aug. 9, 2016: Flynn Intel Group enters contract to enhance Turkey’s image with U.S. business community
Flynn Intel Group is hired by Netherlands-based company Inovo, owned by Turkish businessman Ekim Alptekin. Alptekin chairs the Turkey-U.S. Business Council, which falls under the control of the Turkish government. (Wall Street Journal)
Flynn’s focus would be on helping to make Turkey more attractive to American investors, according to a disclosure form Flynn filed with the Justice Department. (See Foreign Agents Registration Act form)
Aug. 17, 2016: Flynn starts attending U.S. intelligence briefings (Yahoo, NBC)
Sept. 15, 2016: Flynn Intel Group registers as a lobbying firm for Inovo (Lobbying disclosure form)
The lobbying filing meant the Flynn Intel Group is legally a lobbying firm and its attorney is officially a lobbyist. However, it did not make Flynn himself an officially registered lobbyist, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Sept. 19, 2016: Flynn meets with Turkish officials to discuss possibly abducting the Turkish president’s political enemy
Flynn meets with Turkish officials, including Turkey’s foreign minister and the son-in-law of Turkish President Recep Erdogan, to discuss the possibility of abducting an Erdogan political enemy living in Pennsylvania, and delivering him to Turkey, according to an ex-CIA Director who attended the meeting. (Wall Street Journal) Former CIA chief James Woolsey was later quoted in a March 2017 Wall Street Journal article saying he was startled upon hearing discussion of possibly kidnapping cleric Fethullah Gulen.
Oct. 10, 2016: Flynn met with Turkish community leaders linked to Erdogan
Flynn meets with with Turkish community leaders associated with Erdogan, who raised the subject of Gulen. (Daily Caller)
Nov. 8, 2016: Flynn writes op-ed about Turkey
On Election Day, Flynn published an op-ed in The Hill arguing the United States should back Erdogan’s government — an apparent contradiction to Flynn’s earlier support for the coup attempt.
In his piece, Flynn also compares Gulen to Osama Bin Laden. The Hill later published an editor’s note saying Flynn had failed to disclose to the newspaper that he was undertaking "consulting work that might have aided the government of Turkey." (The Hill)
Nov. 10, 2016: Obama warns Trump about Flynn
Media outlets report that two days after the election, Obama told Trump he believed Flynn was "not suitable" to be national security adviser, according to NBC.
Nov. 11, 2016: Reports highlight Flynn’s links to Turkey
The Daily Caller appears to be the first to link Flynn to Turkey, discovering through Dutch records that Erdogan’s ally Alptekin was behind Inovo, the firm the Flynn Intel Group was lobbying for. Such reporting fueled questions whether the Flynn group’s lobbying work was connected to Flynn’s recent public support for Erdogan.
Nov. 15, 2016: Flynn joined Trump for an intelligence briefing at the White House (NBC)
Nov. 16, 2016: Flynn Intel Group contract with Inovo expires
Flynn Intel Group’s lawyer would later file a lobbying disclosure form stating the group’s contract with Inovo expired on this date. (L-2 Disclosure Form)
Nov. 18, 2016: Trump taps Flynn as national security adviser
Late November 2016: Trump transition officials reportedly warn Flynn about his contacts with Russian ambassador
Senior Trump transition officials warned Flynn that Russian ambassador Kislyak’s "conversations were almost certainly being monitored by U.S. intelligence agencies," according to the Washington Post.
Nov. 30, 2016: DOJ officials reportedly contact Flynn about his Turkish interests
Officials with the Department of Justice’s National Security Division reportedly contacted Flynn over concerns about his work on behalf of Inovo. Internal documents reportedly show the DOJ’s interest in Flynn’s Turkish links grew after his Election Day op-ed. (Daily Caller)
Early December 2016: Flynn and Trump adviser and son-in-law Kushner meet with Kislyak at Trump Tower (New York Times)
Dec. 29, 2016: Obama administration imposes sanctions on Russia
The Obama administration responds to Russia’s interference in the U.S. election by issuing sanctions and ejecting Russian diplomats. (New York Times)
Dec. 29, 2016: Flynn reportedly speaks with Russian ambassador about sanctions
Flynn speaks with Kislyak, marking at least the fourth time that month they communicated. (Washington Post). In February it is reported that Flynn and Kislyak discussed sanctions on this day.
Dec. 30, 2016: Putin announces Russia would not retaliate; Trump praises decision
In a move that caught Kremlinologists by surprise, Putin declines to retaliate against the Obama administration’s sanctions.
"While we reserve the right to take reciprocal measures, we’re not going to downgrade ourselves to the level of irresponsible ‘kitchen’ diplomacy," Mr. Putin said, using a common Russian idiom for quarrelsome and unseemly acts. "In our future steps on the way toward the restoration of Russia-United States relations, we will proceed from the policy pursued by the administration" of Donald J. Trump. (New York Times)
Later that day, Trump praises Putin’s decision over Twitter:
Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2016
Jan. 2, 2017: Obama administration learns of Flynn’s Dec. 29 conversations with Kislyak (New York Times)
Jan. 10, 2017: Flynn urged Obama administration to delay a military operation involving Kurds
According to the Washington Post, Flynn urged Obama’s National Security Adviser Susan Rice not to launch an operation to seize Raqqa, Syria, ISIS’s de facto capital. The plan involved arming Kurdish fighters, which was likely to infuriate Turkey’s president Erdogan, who views Kurdish fighters in the as region terrorists. Some lawmakers wondered whether Flynn’s judgment was affected by his contemporaneous lobbying of Turkish interests. (McClatchy DC)
Jan. 12, 2017: News breaks that Flynn and Kislyak talked Dec. 29
It was not yet publicly reported, however, that Flynn and Kislyak had discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia for election meddling. (Washington Post)
Jan. 13, 2017: Sean Spicer denies Flynn discussed sanctions with Kislyak (Washington Post)
Jan. 14, 2017: Flynn tells Pence he had not discussed sanctions with Kislyak (New York Times)
Jan. 15, 2017: Pence, Priebus appear on Sunday shows claiming Flynn did not discuss sanctions or expulsion of Russian diplomats with Kislyak (Face the Nation, Meet the Press)
Jan. 19, 2017: Decision to tell Trump administration about Flynn’s conversation delayed
During Obama’s last day in office, then-Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and then-CIA Director John Brennan wanted to brief the Trump administration on Flynn’s conversations with Kislyak, which had been intercepted by U.S. intelligence, over fears that Flynn could be blackmailed by Russians, who knew he’d misled Pence and others. Yates and Brennan reportedly deferred to then-FBI Director James Comey, who feared such a disclosure could interfere with an ongoing investigation. (Washington Post)
Jan. 22, 2017: Flynn sworn in as nation's 25th national security adviser (Washington Post)
Jan. 22, 2017: Reports claim Flynn under investigation for communications with Russians
It’s reported that Flynn is under a counterintelligence investigation, making Flynn the first person inside the Trump White House whose communications were known to have been scrutinized by the FBI and other agencies looking into Russian officials’ contact with close Trump associates. (Wall Street Journal)
Jan. 23, 2017: Sean Spicer denies Flynn discussed sanctions with Kislyak
Jan. 24, 2017: Flynn denies to FBI that he discussed sanctions with Kislyak, Washington Post reports
Jan. 26, 2017: Yates informs White House that Flynn misrepresented Kislyak conversation
Yates, then-acting attorney general, tells White House counsel Don McGahn that intercepts contradict Flynn’s account of his Dec. 29 conversation with Kislyak, in which Flynn claimed he hadn’t discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador. (Wall Street Journal)
Jan. 27, 2017: The New York Times, citing Comey associates, reports that Trump asked Comey to pledge his loyalty to Trump during private dinner
Comey later confirms this allegation in sworn testimony to Congress.
Jan. 28, 2017: Trump speaks with Putin on the phone for nearly an hour; Flynn, others present in Oval Office
After speaking with Chancellor Merkel for 45 minutes @POTUS is now onto his 3rd of 5 head of government calls, speaking w Russian Pres Putin pic.twitter.com/RPAWIgcO2C
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) January 28, 2017
Feb. 8, 2017: Flynn tells the Washington Post he did not discuss sanctions with Kislyak
Feb. 9, 2017: U.S. intelligence officials reveal Flynn discussed sanctions with Russian ambassador, despite denials; Flynn walks back denial
Citing current and former American officials, the New York Times reported that Flynn had discussed sanctions with Kislyak.
A Flynn spokesman walked back the denial Flynn gave the Washington Post a day earlier. The spokesman said Flynn "indicated that while he had no recollection of discussing sanctions, he couldn’t be certain that the topic never came up." (Washington Post)
Feb. 10, 2017: Trump tells reporters on Air Force One he will "look into" reports concerning Flynn (New York Times)
Feb. 10, 2017: Flynn apologizes to Pence for misleading him (USA Today)
Feb. 13, 2017: The Washington Post reports White House was told of Flynn’s contradiction 18 days earlier (Washington Post)
Feb. 13, 2017: Reports reveal Flynn under Army investigation
The Army had been investigating whether payments Flynn accepted for his 2015 Moscow trip had come from the Russian government without obtaining congressional consent, possibly in violation of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution. (New York Times)
Feb. 13, 2017: Flynn resigns after 24 days
It’s the shortest tenure for a national security adviser in history.
Feb. 14, 2017: Reports say Trump asked Comey to drop Flynn investigation
"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Trump told Comey, according to a memo Comey made after his meeting and reported on by the New York Times. "He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go."
Comey later confirms this allegation in sworn testimony to Congress.
March 7, 2017: Flynn’s company shown to have lobbied for Turkish-linked firm after election
Flynn retroactively files as a foreign agent with Justice Department for his work with the Turkish-linked firm Inovo. Flynn’s filing shows Flynn Intel Group received $535,000 between Sept. 9 and Nov. 14. (Politico)
March 9, 2017: Pence says he learned about Flynn’s Turkish lobbying through media (Fox News)
March 20, 2017: Comey publicly confirms at a House Intelligence hearing that the FBI investigating possible Trump campaign-Russia ties
March 24, 2017: Former CIA Director Woolsey tells Wall Street Journal about Flynn’s meeting with Turkish officials where kidnapping idea floated
March 30, 2017: Flynn offers to testify in Russia investigation in exchange for immunity
Flynn offered to testify in the investigations by the FBI or Senate and House intelligence committees in exchange for immunity from criminal prosecution. "General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit," Flynn’s lawyer Robert Kelner said in a statement.
April 27, 2017: Flynn’s foreign payments under investigation by Pentagon inspector general (Reuters)
May 8, 2017: Yates tells Senate panel she warned Trump administration about Flynn-Kislyak discussions (Guardian)
May 9, 2017: Grand jury subpoenas issued to Flynn associates for business records
The US Attorney's Office in Alexandria, Va., reportedly issued subpoenas some weeks earlier to associates who worked with Flynn after his retirement from DIA, CNN reported. The subpoenas reportedly seek Flynn’s business records. (CNN)
May 9, 2017: Trump fires FBI Director Comey
May 10, 2017: Trump meets with Russian delegation; the New York Times reported Trump boasted that firing ‘nut job’ Comey eases pressure from Russia investigation
White House press secretary Sean Spicer did not dispute the Times story. Instead, he blamed Comey’s "grandstanding and politicizing" of the Russia probe for making the administration’s engagement with Moscow more challenging.
"The President has always emphasized the importance of making deals with Russia as it relates to Syria, Ukraine, defeating ISIS and other key issues for the benefit and safety of the American people," Spicer said in a statement.
"By grandstanding and politicizing the investigation into Russia's actions, James Comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia," the statement continued. "The investigation would have always continued, and obviously, the termination of Comey would not have ended it. Once again, the real story is that our national security has been undermined by the leaking of private and highly classified conversations."
May 11, 2017: Trump says Russia story part of reasoning for firing Comey
Trump tells NBC’s Lester Holt: "When I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, it's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won."
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May 10, 2017: Senate intelligence committee subpoenas Michael Flynn
The Senate intelligence committee subpoenas Flynn for "documents regarding his interactions with Russian officials," according to CNN.
May 17, 2017: The New York Times reports that Trump transition team knew Flynn was under investigation
Weeks before Trump’s inauguration, Flynn reportedly told the transition team he was under federal investigation for secretly working as a paid lobbyist for Turkey during the campaign. (New York Times)
May 17, 2017: Special counsel appointed for Russia investigation
The Justice Department appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to lead the investigation into possible ties or coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian officials as well as other matters that "may arise directly from the investigation." NBC reports Flynn is among the "key figures" in the special counsel’s Russia probe.
May 18, 2017: Trump denies that he told Comey to shut down Flynn investigation
Trump flatly denied pressuring Comey over Flynn when asked about it at a news conference:
Reporter: "Did you at any time urge former FBI Director James Comey in any way, shape or form to close or to back down on the investigation into Michael Flynn?"
Trump: "No. No. Next question."
May 22, 2017: Flynn rejects order to hand over documents
Invoking his right against self-incrimination, Flynn declined to comply with a Senate subpoena of emails and other records related to any dealings with Russians, as part of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. (New York Times)
Dec. 1, 2017: Flynn pleads guilty to lying to the FBI
Flynn enters a plea deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Dec. 1, 2017- Dec. 4, 2018: Flynn participates in 19 interviews with lawyers from the special counsel’s office or the Department of Justice
Dec. 4, 2018: The special counsel’s office issues a sentencing memorandum regarding Flynn
Based on Flynn’s "substantial assistance," Mueller’s office recommends the "low end" of the zero- to six-month sentence that his crime carries.
Our Sources
Washington Post, "National security adviser Flynn discussed sanctions with Russian ambassador, despite denials, officials say," Feb. 9, 2017
Washington Post, "Head of Pentagon intelligence agency forced out, officials say," April 30, 2014
Politico, "How Mike Flynn Became America’s Angriest General," Oct. 16, 2016
Defense Intelligence Agency memoto Michael Flynn, Oct. 8, 2014
Transcript, "Fox News Sunday," Feb. 8, 2015
Politico, "Trump's favorite general," July 8, 2016
The New Yorker, "Michael Flynn, General Chaos," Feb. 27, 2017
Politico Magazine, "The Kremlin’s Candidate," May/June 2016
Wall Street Journal, "Mike Flynn Worked for Several Russian Companies, Was Paid More Than $50,000, Documents Show," March 16, 2017
Reuters, "Trump being advised by ex-U.S. Lieutenant General who favors closer Russia ties," Feb. 26, 2016
New York Post, "General forced out by Obama is on Trump’s VP short list," July 5, 2016
ABC News, "Donald Trump Vetting Gen. Michael Flynn for Potential VP Pick," July 9, 2016
YouTube, "Act! Cleveland Meeting featuring General Michael Flynn," July 15, 2016
Wall Street Journal, "Trump Adviser Michael Flynn Plans to Sever Consulting Firm Ties if Tapped for Administration," Nov. 17, 2016
Flynn Intel Group filingunder Foreign Agents Registration Act, March 7, 2017
Yahoo News, "Michael Flynn, Trump’s reported pick for national security adviser, sat in on intel briefings — while advising foreign clients," Nov. 17, 2016
NBC News, "What Really Happened at Donald Trump’s Intelligence Briefing," Sept. 8, 2016
Flynn Intel Group lobbying disclosure form, Sept. 30, 2016
Wall Street Journal, "Ex-CIA Director: Mike Flynn and Turkish Officials Discussed Removal of Erdogan Foe From U.S.," March 24, 2017
Daily Caller, "Trump Adviser Recently Met With Relative Of Turkey’s President," Nov. 16, 2016
The Hill, "Michael Flynn: Our ally Turkey is in crisis and needs our support," Nov. 8, 2016
NBC News, "Obama Warned Trump Against Hiring Mike Flynn, Say Officials," May 8, 2017
New York Times, "Obama Warned Trump About Hiring Flynn, Officials Say," May 8, 2017
Daily Caller, "Trump’s Top Military Adviser Is Lobbying For Obscure Company With Ties To Turkish Government," Nov. 11, 2016
NBC News, "Trump, Pence Expected To Receive Daily Briefing Tuesday," Nov. 15, 2016
Flynn Intel Group lobbying disclosure form, Dec. 1, 2016
Washington Post, "Flynn was warned by Trump transition officials about contacts with Russian ambassador," May 5, 2017
Daily Caller, "Here’s What Prompted Michael Flynn To Register As An Agent Of Turkey," March 31, 2017
New York Times, "Kushner and Flynn Met With Russian Envoy in December, White House Says," March 2, 2017
New York Times, "Obama Strikes Back at Russia for Election Hacking," Dec. 29, 2016
Washington Post, "First sign of enhanced U.S.-Russia relations under Trump: An invite to Syria talks," Jan. 13, 2017
New York Times, "Flynn Is Said to Have Talked to Russians About Sanctions Before Trump Took Office," Feb. 9, 2017
New York Times, "Vladimir Putin Won’t Expel U.S. Diplomats as Russian Foreign Minister Urged," Dec. 30, 2016
New York Times, "Obama Administration Rushed to Preserve Intelligence of Russian Election Hacking," March 1, 2017
Washington Post, "Obama’s White House worked for months on a plan to seize Raqqa. Trump’s team took a brief look and decided not to pull the trigger," Feb. 2, 2017
Tweetby Donald Trump, Dec. 30, 2016
McClatchy DC, "Flynn stopped military plan Turkey opposed – after being paid as its agent," May 17, 2017
Washington Post, "Why did Obama dawdle on Russia’s hacking?" Jan. 12, 2017
New York Times, "The Timeline of Michael Flynn’s Phone Call With Russia: Who Knew What, and When," Feb. 14, 2017
Transcript, "Face the Nation," Jan. 15, 2017
Transcript, "Meet the Press," Jan. 15, 2017
Washington Post, "Justice Department warned White House that Flynn could be vulnerable to Russian blackmail, officials say," Feb. 13, 2017
Washington Post, "Trump, Pence preside over East Room ceremony to swear in senior staff," Jan. 22, 2017
Wall Street Journal, "U.S. Eyes Michael Flynn’s Links to Russia," Jan. 22, 2017
Transcript, "White House briefing," Jan. 23, 2017
Washington Post, "Flynn in FBI interview denied discussing sanctions with Russian ambassador," Feb. 16, 2017
Wall Street Journal, "Trump Was Told Weeks Ago About Flynn’s Misleading Statements," Feb. 14, 2017
New York Times, "In a Private Dinner, Trump Demanded Loyalty. Comey Demurred," May 11, 2017
Tweetby White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, Jan. 28, 2017
New York Times, "Trump Will ‘Look Into’ Reports That Flynn Discussed Sanctions With Russia," Feb. 10, 2017
USA Today, "Trump is 'evaluating situation' about Flynn, spokesman says," Feb. 13, 2017
New York Times, "Michael Flynn Resigns as National Security Adviser," Feb. 13, 2017
Washington Post, "Flynn sets record with only 24 days as national security adviser. The average tenure is about 2.6 years," Feb. 14, 2017
New York Times, "Comey Memo Says Trump Asked Him to End Flynn Investigation," May 16, 2017
CNN, "Flynn changed story to FBI, no charges expected," Feb. 17, 2017
Politico, "Flynn lobbied for Turkish-linked firm after election, documents show," March 8, 2017
Fox News, "Pence: Let congressional committees probe Russian ties," March 9, 2017
New York Times, "Comey Confirms F.B.I. Inquiry on Russia; Sees No Evidence of Wiretapping," March 20, 2017
Wall Street Journal, "Mike Flynn Offers to Testify in Exchange for Immunity," March 30, 2017
Reuters, "Pentagon probes Trump's ex-adviser Flynn over foreign payments," April 27, 2017
The Guardian, "Mike Flynn at risk of Russian blackmail, Sally Yates warned White House," May 8, 2017
CNN, "Grand jury subpoenas issued in FBI's Russia investigation," May 10, 2017
New York Times, "F.B.I. Director James Comey Is Fired by Trump," May 9, 2017
New York Times, "Trump Told Russians That Firing ‘Nut Job’ Comey Eased Pressure From Investigation," May 19, 2017
ABC News, "White House doesn't dispute Trump called Comey a 'nut job' to Russians," May 19, 2017
NBC News, "President Trump: This Russia Thing is a Made Up Story," May 11, 2017
PolitiFact, "Donald Trump's Pants on Fire claim Russia story 'made-up' by Democrats," May 12, 2017
CNN, "Senate intelligence committee subpoenas Michael Flynn," May 11, 2017
New York Times, "Trump Team Knew Flynn Was Under Investigation Before He Came to White House," May 17, 2017
New York Times, "Robert Mueller, Former F.B.I. Director, Is Named Special Counsel for Russia Investigation," May 17, 2017
NBC News, "Flynn, Manafort Are Key Figures in Russia Probe Mueller Will Lead," May 17, 2017
Transcript, "White House Press Conference," May 18, 2017
New York Times, "Michael Flynn Misled Pentagon About Russia Ties, Letter Says," May 22, 2017
