No amount of insularity will protect them. Ironic, in fact, that the more insular they become, the greater the leaks expand.
In early January, we learned that Mike Flynn had spoken to Russian officials in December, around the time that the Obama Administration announced sanctions against Russia for hacking. We all knew something was fishy about their response.
Putin’s muted response — which took White House officials by surprise — raised some officials’ suspicions that Moscow may have been promised a reprieve, and triggered a search by U.S. spy agencies for clues.
“Something happened in those 24 hours” between Obama’s announcement and Putin’s response, a former senior U.S. official said. Officials began poring over intelligence reports, intercepted communications and diplomatic cables, and saw evidence that Flynn and Kislyak had communicated by text and telephone around the time of the announcement.When caught with the truth that the phone calls occurred, Flynn denied that the sanctions were discussed. Bullshit. You talk to Russia right as the sanctions were announced, and you didn't talk about the sanctions? The bullshit meter broke, my friends.
But finally, after digging deep enough below the bullshit, WaPo has reached paydirt.
Nine current and former officials, who were in senior positions at multiple agencies at the time of the calls, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.
All of those officials said Flynn’s references to the election-related sanctions were explicit. Two of those officials went further, saying that Flynn urged Russia not to overreact to the penalties being imposed by President Barack Obama, making clear that the two sides would be in position to review the matter after Trump was sworn in as president.Not only did Flynn lie, but his offers of repeal were done so even while we had a sitting President -- Obama -- in charge of foreign affairs, making it a potential violation of the Logan Act, and possibly Treason.
No comments:
Post a Comment