Vice President Mike Pence said Monday he was “disappointed” that fired former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn had misled him on his contacts with Russia.
But Pence — in Brussels to reassure NATO leaders of America’s commitment to the alliance — stopped short of criticizing his boss for not cluing him in sooner that Flynn had talked about US sanctions during a phone call with the Russian ambassador.
“Let me say I’m very grateful for the close working relationship I have with the president of the United States and I would tell you that I was disappointed to learn that the facts that have been conveyed to me by General Flynn were inaccurate,” Pence said in response to a reporter’s question about whether Trump had reassured him that it would not happen again.
Flynn gave Pence inaccurate information about the calls he had made to the Kremlin.
The vice president then went on “Face The Nation” to defend Flynn in January — weeks after Trump knew Flynn had spoken about the sanctions.
The vice president only learned the truth on Feb. 9, 15 days after Trump was warned by the Justice Department.
“I fully support the president’s decision to ask for his resignation,” Pence said in Brussels.
“It was the proper decision. It was handled properly and in a timely way,” Pence said. “I have great confidence in the national security team going forward.”
Over the weekend at Mar-a Lago, Trump met with four candidates for the national security adviser job: Army strategist Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton, acting national security adviser Keith Kellogg and West Point superintendent Lt. Col. Robert Caslen.
Retired Navy Vice Adm. Robert Harward was offered the job last week but turned it down.
Pence also spoke on the importance of a free press in light of Trump’s tweet last week that the mainstream media is the “enemy.”
“Rest assured, both the president and I strongly support a free and independent press,” Pence said.
“But you can anticipate that the president and all of us will continue to call out the media when they play fast and loose with the facts. The truth is that we have in President Trump someone who has a unique ability to speak directly to the American people, and when the media gets it wrong, I promise you, President Trump will take his case straight to the American people to set the record straight.”
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