The downfall of Michael Flynn
April 2014: Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn is relieved of duty as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Flynn later alleged that the firing stemmed from his criticism of then-President Barack Obama’s efforts to fight terrorism.
Dec. 10, 2015: Flynn participates in a celebration of the 10th anniversary of Russia Today, the Russian-state-backed television network. He is part of a panel discussion in Moscow, for which he receives compensation.
Feb. 26, 2016: Reuters reports that Flynn is advising Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
Jul. 18: Flynn endorses Trump at the Republican National Convention. Michael Flynn campaigned for Trump in October 2016.
Jul. 22: On the Friday before the Democratic National Convention begins, WikiLeaks releases e-mails thought to have been stolen from the Democratic National Committee by Russian state actors.
Oct. 7: WikiLeaks begins publishing e-mails that the U.S. government thinks were stolen by Russia from the account of Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta.
Before Nov. 8: Flynn contacts Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. It’s not clear how often the two spoke.
Nov. 8: Trump is elected.
Nov. 17: Trump names Flynn his national security adviser, a post that does not require Senate approval.
Dec. 25: According to Vice President Mike Pence, Flynn texts Kislyak to mark Christmas and express condolences for a plane crash.
Dec. 29: Flynn places five phone calls to Kislyak. The calls were apparently on unsecured lines, and monitored by U.S. intelligence agencies. Obama announces measures to punish Russia for its interference in the election.
Jan. 11: Trump acknowledges that Russia was most likely behind the hacking, although he adds, “We also get hacked by other countries and other people.”
Jan. 12: The Washington Post reveals the Flynn- Kislyak conversations.
Jan. 13: Spicer tells reporters that there was one call between Kislyak and Flynn, during which the pair “exchanged logistical information” on setting up a call between Trump and President Vladimir Putin.
Jan. 15: On CBS, Pence says Flynn didn’t discuss “anything having to do with the United States’ decision to expel diplomats or impose censure against Russia.”
Late January: Acting Attorney General Sally Yates informs White House counsel Donald McGahn that Flynn was lying about the nature of his calls with Kislyak and that this made him vulnerable to blackmail by Russia.
Feb. 8: Flynn tells reporters that he didn’t discuss sanctions with Kislyak.
Feb. 9: His spokesman says Flynn “indicated that while he had no recollection of discussing sanctions, he couldn’t be certain that the topic never came up.”
Feb. 10: Trump tells reporters that he’s unfamiliar with the reports that Flynn now admits he may have discussed sanctions.
Feb. 13: Trump aide Kellyanne Conway says that Trump has full confidence in Flynn. Later, Flynn resigns. In his resignation letter, he writes, “I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts. … Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude.”
Washington Post
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