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U.S. NEWS Saturday 25 November 2017

Flynn may be moving to cooperate with Mueller’s Russia probe

By ERIC TUCKER dential campaign.
Associated Press The lobbying campaign
WASHINGTON (AP) sought to gather deroga-
— In a move that could tory information on Fethul-
signal cooperation with lah Gulen, a Turkish cleric
the government, lawyers and green-card holder liv-
for former national secu- ing in Pennsylvania.
rity adviser Michael Flynn Turkish President Recep
have told President Donald Tayyip Erdogan has ac-
Trump’s lawyers that they cused Gulen of being be-
are no longer communi- hind a botched coup and
cating with them about has sought his extradition.
special counsel Robert Gulen has denied the al-
Mueller’s investigation into legations, and U.S. officials
Russian election interfer- have rebuffed Turkey’s ex-
ence. tradition demands, citing a
Flynn’s legal team com- lack of evidence.
municated the decision Flynn and his firm, Flynn In-
this week, said a person tel Group, carried out the
familiar with the move who lobbying and research
spoke to The Associated work for several months,
Press on condition of ano- meeting with officials from
nymity to discuss an ongo- the U.S. and Turkish govern-
ing investigation. In this Feb. 1, 2017 photo, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn speaks during the daily news ments.
The New York Times first re- briefing at the White House, in Washington. A lawyer for former national security adviser Flynn has Flynn also published an op-
ported the decision. told President Donald Trump’s legal team that they are no longer communicating with them about ed on Election Day in The
special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference, according to a
The decision could be a person familiar with the decision who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Hill newspaper, parroting
sign that Flynn is moving to (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) many of the Turkish govern-
cooperate with Mueller’s ment’s talking points about
investigation or negotiate communications with the ness dealings even before that Trump encouraged Gulen.
a deal for himself. ambassador, Sergey Kis- Mueller was appointed as him to end an FBI investiga- At the time, neither Flynn
In large criminal investi- lyak. special counsel in May to tion into Flynn during a pri- nor his company was reg-
gations, defense lawyers Days later, Sally Yates, then investigate potential co- vate Oval Office meeting istered with the Justice De-
routinely share information acting attorney general, in- ordination between the in February. partment to represent Turk-
with each other. formed White House coun- Trump campaign and Rus- In addition to scrutinizing ish interests.
But it can become unethi- sel Don McGahn that Flynn sia to influence the 2016 Flynn’s contacts with Rus- Soon after the publication
cal to continue such com- was in a compromised presidential election. sia during the transition of the op-ed, the Justice
munication if one of the position and vulnerable to Mueller has since inherited and campaign, Mueller Department began inves-
potential targets is looking blackmail because of inac- that investigation. has been investigating the tigating Flynn’s lobbying
to negotiate a deal with curate public statements Flynn, a prominent Trump retired U.S. Army lieutenant work, and in March, he
prosecutors. from the White House backer in the campaign, general’s role in $530,000 registered with the depart-
Robert Kelner, a lawyer for about Flynn’s contacts with has been a key figure in worth of lobbying work ment as a foreign agent.
Flynn, declined to com- Kislyak. Mueller’s probe and of par- his now-defunct firm per- In federal filings, Flynn
ment, as did a lawyer for Flynn was facing a Justice ticular interest to Trump. formed for a Turkish busi- acknowledged the work
Flynn’s son, Michael Flynn Department investiga- Former FBI Director James nessman during the final could have benefited the
Jr., who has also come tion over his foreign busi- Comey, for instance, said months of the 2016 presi- government of Turkey.q
under investigation from
Flynn was forced to resign Ivanka Trump:
Mueller’s prosecutors.
er in February after White Malia Obama should be ‘off limits’ to media coverage
as national security advis-

House officials concluded
that he had misled them By ZEKE MILLER serves privacy and ought and should be OFF limits.” lege without the distraction
about the nature of his Associated Press to be “OFF limits.” The former first daughter is a of her father in the White
contacts during the transi- NEW YORK (AP) — Ivanka The president’s daughter first-year student at Harvard House. The informal society
tion period with the Russian Trump is condemning re- tweets: “Malia Obama University. Malia Obama of presidential children has
ambassador to the United cent tabloid coverage of should be allowed the took a gap year after grad- historically been protective
States. President Barack Obama’s same privacy as her school uating high school in 2016, of its youngest members,
FBI agents interviewed eldest daughter Malia, say- aged peers. She is a young in what the Obamas said without regard for political
Flynn in January about his ing the college student de- adult and private citizen, was an effort to start col- party.q