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White House aide declines to back Flynn over Russia contact White House aide declines to back Flynn over Russia contact
(about 1 hour later)
A top White House official declined in several interviews over the weekend to defend national security adviser Michael Flynn, amid controversy over his alleged contacts with Russia.A top White House official declined in several interviews over the weekend to defend national security adviser Michael Flynn, amid controversy over his alleged contacts with Russia.
Mr Flynn reportedly discussed sanctions with a Russian official in the weeks before Mr Trump took office. Mr Flynn reportedly discussed sanctions with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak in the weeks before the inauguration.
He denied talking about this issue but later said he could not be certain.He denied talking about this issue but later said he could not be certain.
Any discussion of sanctions could have violated laws against private citizens engaging in foreign policy.Any discussion of sanctions could have violated laws against private citizens engaging in foreign policy.
Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump's top policy adviser, declined to say when asked in a number of interviews whether Mr Trump backed Mr Flynn.Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump's top policy adviser, declined to say when asked in a number of interviews whether Mr Trump backed Mr Flynn.
Mr Miller said it was not his place to comment on the "sensitive matter" concerning Mr Flynn, who was an early supporter of Mr Trump but whose position in the administration is thought to be under scrutiny.Mr Miller said it was not his place to comment on the "sensitive matter" concerning Mr Flynn, who was an early supporter of Mr Trump but whose position in the administration is thought to be under scrutiny.
Mr Flynn spoke with Russia's ambassador, Sergei Kislyak, by phone in December. Asked if the president still had confidence in Mr Flynn, Mr Miller responded: "That's a question for the president."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Mr Flynn and Mr Kislyak did not discuss lifting sanctions.
The controversy comes as Mr Trump faces his first major national security challenge, following the test by North Korea on Sunday of a ballistic missile. Mr Flynn would ordinarily be closely involved in determining the US response to such a test.
How the controversy unfolded
Mr Flynn is known to have spoken with Mr Kislyak several times by phone in December.
Both Mr Flynn and US Vice-President Mike Pence denied that the two men discussed US sanctions imposed over Russia's actions in Ukraine and alleged hacking of the US Democratic Party.Both Mr Flynn and US Vice-President Mike Pence denied that the two men discussed US sanctions imposed over Russia's actions in Ukraine and alleged hacking of the US Democratic Party.
But nine current and former officials later told the Washington Post that the issue had been discussed.But nine current and former officials later told the Washington Post that the issue had been discussed.
A spokesman subsequently told reporters that Mr Flynn "couldn't be certain" he had not discussed the sanctions. A spokesman for Mr Flynn subsequently backtracked, telling reporters that the adviser now said he "couldn't be certain" he had not discussed the sanctions, prompting speculation that he may have misled the vice-president.
Mr Trump, who spent the weekend at his club in Florida, Mar-a-Lago, has not commented on the controversy. Mr Flynn is understood to have also been at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend. Mr Pence and Mr Flynn reportedly spoke twice on Friday.
Mr Trump is said to be troubled by the situation and uncertain as to whether he will ask Mr Flynn to step down, the AP reported, citing administration officials. What has the president said?
Mr Trump, who spent the weekend at his club in Florida, Mar-a-Lago, has yet to comment publicly. Mr Flynn was with Mr Trump at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend.
The president is expected to face questions on the issue during a joint press conference with the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, on Monday.
Citing administration officials, the Associated Press reported that the president is troubled by the situation and uncertain as to whether he will ask Mr Flynn to step down.
Several other White House officials, as well as Mr Miller, declined over the weekend to comment on the situation.Several other White House officials, as well as Mr Miller, declined over the weekend to comment on the situation.
A confidante under fire
Mr Flynn was an ardent supporter of Mr Trump during the campaign, and he has become a close ally of both the president and the president's chief strategist Steve Bannon.
But questions have been raised about Mr Flynn's closeness with Russia.
He attended a banquet last year held in honour of the Russian government, where he sat two seats away from Vladimir Putin.
A top aide on Mr Flynn's team, Robin Townley, was this week denied security clearance by the CIA, preventing Mr Townley from taking up a post in Africa for which Mr Flynn had recommended him.
And Mr Flynn's son has attracted unwelcome attention - and reportedly a personal rebuke from Mr Trump - after tweeting about the so-called Pizzagate fake news story, which alleged a pizzeria was the nexus of a paedophile ring involving Hillary Clinton and one of her aides, John Podesta.