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U.S. NEWS Saturday 1 april 2017
Trump urges former adviser Flynn to cut immunity deal

CHAD DAY firmed that preliminary dis-
EILEEN SULLIVAN cussions with the Senate
JULIE PACE intelligence committee in-
Associated Press volved immunity but that it
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- was too early in the inves-
dent Donald Trump urged tigation to set terms. The
his former national security aide was not authorized to
adviser to strike an immu- discuss private conversa-
nity deal Friday, even as tions and spoke on condi-
congressional investigators tion of anonymity.
rebuffed Michael Flynn’s It was unclear from Trump’s
offer of cooperation in tweet whether he was ad-
exchange for protection vising the Justice Depart-
from prosecution. ment or the congressional
Trump tweeted that Flynn, panels to give his former
the adviser he fired in Feb- adviser immunity. The pres-
ruary, should ask for immu- ident is not supposed to
nity because he’s facing direct ongoing investiga-
“a witch hunt.” tions.
The White House also tried White House spokesman
to quell a firestorm over its Sean Spicer said Trump
role in helping a top Re- just wants Flynn to testify,
publican lawmaker see and there are no concerns
secret intelligence reports. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with the National Association of Manufacturers, that Flynn could impli-
Rep. Adam Schiff went to Friday, March 31, 2017, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. cate the president in any
the White House to view (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) wrongdoing.q
materials that he said were
“precisely the same” as become a near-daily dis-
what House intelligence traction for a new admin-
committee chairman istration struggling to find
Devin Nunes viewed there its footing. Trump has vigor-
last week. ously denied that his cam-
“The White House has paign coordinated with
yet to explain why senior Russia during the election.
White House staff appar- The president weighed
ently shared these materi- in on Flynn the day after
als with but one member,” the ousted national secu-
said Schiff, who met with rity adviser’s attorney con-
Trump for about 10 minutes firmed the immunity dis-
while he was at the White cussions with intelligence
House. committees in both the
The congressional investi- Senate and House that are
gations into Russian elec- investigating Russia’s med-
tion interference and the dling in the 2016 presiden-
Trump campaign’s pos- tial election.
sible Russian ties have A congressional aide con-

White House makes clear it’s

not trying to push Assad out

BRADLEY KLAPPER “There is a political reality
Associated Press that we have to accept in
WASHINGTON (AP) — The terms of where we are right
Trump administration de- now,” Spicer told reporters.
clared Friday that it wasn’t “We had an opportunity
pursuing a strategy to push and we need to focus on
Syrian President Bashar now defeating ISIS.” Hours
Assad out of power, mak- earlier, Jim Mattis, President
ing clear its focus is on de- Donald Trump’s Pentagon
feating the Islamic State chief, said Washington
group. White House press was looking at Syria “one
secretary Sean Spicer said day at a time,” indicating
the U.S. approach was be- Assad’s status wasn’t the
ing driven by a new “real- most immediate question.
ity” and that Assad’s future On Thursday, Trump’s U.N.
had to be a decision for the ambassador, Nikki Haley,
Syrian people. Similar state- said of Assad: “Do we think
ments were made earlier he’s a hindrance? Yes. Are
by U.S. Cabinet members we going to sit there and
speaking in Ankara, London focus on getting him out?
and at the United Nations. No.”q