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Michael Flynn did not disclose income from Russian companies, White House forms show

Woes continue for former national security adviser

Rachael Revesz
Sunday 02 April 2017 08:35 BST
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Flynn was forced out of the White House 24 days after Inauguration
Flynn was forced out of the White House 24 days after Inauguration (Getty)

The embattled former national security adviser to Donald Trump failed to disclose thousands of dollars of income from Russian companies, documents show.

In a financial disclosure form on 11 February, Michael Flynn did not reveal he had speaking engagements, including for the state-funded RT channel and Volga-Dnepr Airlines.

The form, which was signed electronically, was released by the White House at the weekend.

Yet he did list these incomes in a form on 31 March, under a section called “sources of compensation exceeding $5,000 a year”.

The discrepancy could add to the legal battle Mr Flynn is about to face as he is due to testify before the Senate about his links to Russia and whether there was any collusion between the country and Trump aides to propel Mr Trump into the White House.

His lawyer has requested immunity from prosecution for his client if he testifies before the Senate and House intelligence committees. The request has reportedly been rejected.

“General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it," said his lawyer in a statement .

General Mattis: Russia has been 'mucking around inside other people's elections'

Mr Flynn was forced to resign after just 24 days in the job as he allegedly misled Vice President Mike Pence about his phone calls with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak before Mr Trump was in office.

Mr Trump said the media treated his disgraced employee “very badly” and said Mr Flynn had not been let go due to calling the ambassador, but due to an erosion of "trust".

He and Russian officials have flatly denied any collusion to tar Hillary Clinton. Mr Trump insisted Democrats are just sore over his win, and pointed to allegedly bias treatment of Ms Clinton's relationship with Russia.

Several congressional committees and the FBI are looking into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

After Mr Flynn was forced to resign, other threads started to unravel. Jared Kushner, Mr Trump’s son-in-law and Senior Adviser, will also face questioning over his meeting with the ambassador and the head of a state-owned Russian bank.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has recused himself from any Justice Department investigation of Russian links as he also admitted to meeting with Mr Kislyak.

Agencies contributed to this report.

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