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| Fired Trump aide Michael Flynn 'has a story to tell' | Fired Trump aide Michael Flynn 'has a story to tell' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Donald Trump's fired national security adviser "has a story to tell" to congressional hearings into alleged Russian vote meddling, his lawyer says. | President Donald Trump's fired national security adviser "has a story to tell" to congressional hearings into alleged Russian vote meddling, his lawyer says. |
| Michael Flynn's attorney said his client wants to testify, but needs to guard against "unfair prosecution". | Michael Flynn's attorney said his client wants to testify, but needs to guard against "unfair prosecution". |
| Lawyer Robert Kelner did not comment on a Wall Street Journal report that Mr Flynn wants immunity from prosecution. | Lawyer Robert Kelner did not comment on a Wall Street Journal report that Mr Flynn wants immunity from prosecution. |
| Mr Flynn was sacked in February after misleading the White House about his conversations with a Russian envoy. | Mr Flynn was sacked in February after misleading the White House about his conversations with a Russian envoy. |
| "General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit," said his attorney. | "General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit," said his attorney. |
| Mr Kelner said he would not comment on the discussions between Mr Flynn and the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, which are investigating claims the Kremlin sought to help Donald Trump win the US presidential election. | Mr Kelner said he would not comment on the discussions between Mr Flynn and the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, which are investigating claims the Kremlin sought to help Donald Trump win the US presidential election. |
| The lawyer said the media was awash with "unfounded allegations, outrageous claims of treason, and vicious innuendo". | The lawyer said the media was awash with "unfounded allegations, outrageous claims of treason, and vicious innuendo". |
| "No reasonable person, who has the benefit of advice from counsel, would submit to questioning in such a highly politicized, witch-hunt environment without assurances against unfair prosecution," said the written statement. | |
| Earlier on Thursday, the Senate Intelligence Committee opened its hearing with one Democratic member saying Moscow had sought to "hijack" the US election through "propaganda on steroids". | |
| And panel chairman Richard Burr, a Republican, warned: "We are all targets of a sophisticated and capable adversary." | |
| Mr Burr also confirmed there had been "conversations" about interviewing Mr Flynn, but his appearance had not been confirmed. | |
| The Trump presidency has been unable to shake off allegations that members of its team colluded with Russian officials during the election campaign. | |
| The president regularly dismisses the claims as "fake news" and Russia has also ridiculed the allegations. | |
| President Putin did so again on Thursday at an Arctic forum, describing them as "nonsense" and "irresponsible". | |
| Mr Flynn, a retired army lieutenant-general, initially denied having discussed US sanctions against Russia with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak. | |
| US Vice-President Mike Pence publicly denied the allegations on his behalf. | |
| But Mr Flynn quit after details of his phone call emerged, along with reports the Justice Department had warned the White House about him misleading officials and being vulnerable to Russian blackmail. |