Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn cited for undisclosed foreign payments

Gen. Michael Flynn, who worked as a National Security Adviser for former President Donald Trump, has been cited for neglecting to disclose well-paid speaking gigs and other business arrangements with foreign businesspeople and companies.

The Washington Post was able to obtain a letter from the army confirming that they would be seeking $38,557.06 from Flynn.

Craig R. Schmauder, who is a lawyer for the army, stated in the letter that Flynn’s failure “to obtain the approvals of the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of State resulted in a violation of the Emoluments Clause.” This condition bars retired military personnel from profiting from foreign governments without the relevant authorization.

“When there is a finding that a military retiree has violated the Emoluments Clause, the United States Government may pursue a debt collection,” Schmauder wrote to Flynn.

In regard to the army debt, Flynn said in television interview in May that he is “going to reach into my retirement and … take some money out.” He added, “Yeah, it means something, but at the end of the day, this country means a heck of a lot more than what they will do to me.”

Investigators have said that Flynn was paid $450,000 from both Turkish and Russian businesses in 2015. This included a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. No evidence has been found that Flynn sought government approval for this funding.

Vladimir Putin told Megyn Kelly during an interview with NBC that his communication with Flynn was extremely limited. “You and I, you and I personally, have a much closer relationship than I had with Mr. Flynn,” Putin said to Kelly. “You and I met yesterday evening. You and I have been working together all day today. And now we’re meeting again.

“When I came to the event for our company, Russia Today, and sat down at the table, next to me there was a gentleman sitting on one side,” Putin went onto say. “I made my speech. Then we talked about some other stuff. And I got up and left. And then afterwards I was told, ‘You know there was an American gentleman. He was involved in some things. He used to be in the security services’ … that’s it. I didn’t even really talk to him… That’s the extent of my acquaintance with Mr. Flynn.”