President Trump Must Fire Michael Flynn, Congressman Says

Criticism of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn continues to mount after multiple reports suggested that, despite the administration's denials, the president's aide inappropriately discussed sanctions on Russia with Moscow while President Obama was still in office.

Rep. Eliot Engel, a Democrat from New York and ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, called on Flynn to resign in a statement released Friday afternoon.

"It's clear that concerns about General Flynn's ties to Russia were well warranted," Engel said. "It's unacceptable that during the transition, General Flynn discussed lifting sanctions with Russia's ambassador. This action would be deeply troubling under any circumstances, but considering Russia's effort to tip the election toward President Trump, the General's actions are disqualifying."

Rep. Elijah Cummings, a Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, also issued a statement concerning the new information.

"If this new report is accurate, it raises grave questions about whether General Flynn was dishonest with the American people, whether he misled his own White House colleagues, or whether White House officials knew about his secret dealings with Russia and misled the public themselves," Cummings said. "To this day, General Flynn refuses to disclose how much he was paid when he had dinner with Vladimir Putin in apparent violation of the Constitution's ban on foreign emoluments."

He continued: "If this new report is true, we need to ask not only whether General Flynn should be leading our national security efforts, but whether he should even hold a security clearance."

The reports come from the New York Times and the Washington Post. Citing both former and current public officials, they found that Flynn spoke with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, about the sanctions imposed on the country following revelation about the Kremlin's attempts to influence the 2016 election.

"Federal officials who have read the transcript of the call were surprised by Mr. Flynn’s comments, since he would have known that American eavesdroppers closely monitor such calls," the Times wrote. "They were even more surprised that Mr. Trump’s team publicly denied that the topics of conversation included sanctions."

“They did not discuss anything having to do with the United States’ decision to expel diplomats or impose censure against Russia,” said Vice President Mike Pence on CBS' "Face the Nation," days before the inauguration.

Late on Friday, Rep. Adam Schiff, an California Republican on the Intelligence Committee, called out both Flynn and other administration officials based on the report.

"The allegation that General Flynn, while President Obama was still in office, secretly discussed with Rissia's ambassador ways to undermine the sanctions levied against Russia for its interference in the Presidentional election on Donald Trump's behalf, raises serious question of legality and fitness for the office," Schiff said. "If He did so, and then he and other Administration officails misled the American people, his conduct would be all the more pernicious, and he should no longer serve in the Administration or any other."

Patch reached out to the White House for comment on this story. It will be updated with any repsonse.

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