Michael Flynn is quickly running out of options! The former national security minister reportedly has broken the law when he collected payments from Russian and Turkish officials. And according to the spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee, the former security minister had knowingly misdirected the U.S. government.
On Tuesday, the charges were laid out against Flynn, who had resigned in February after evidence of an incriminating telephone conversation made to a Russian minister was reported by several news outlets. The White house, however, after the damning information had moved to distance itself from the former national security minister.
Recently, Flynn had offered to testify before the House and Senate Intelligence advisory committee in return for immunity, however, it was denied. Just a few months ago everything seems to be going well for the retired Army lieutenant, who was one of the main politicians that were advocating for the incarceration of Hillary Rodham Clinton. At that time, the Democratic nominee was reportedly under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The Pentagon launched major investigation into Flynn
Flynn's monetary problems were disclosed on Tuesday after the chairman of the House Oversight Committee Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) along with Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) revealed information that was found in an audit conducted by the Pentagon.
Chaffetz, who will retire at the end of his current term said there was no supporting information showing that the accused army veteran followed the law.
Chaffetz and Cummings reiterated that the information they received showed that Flynn conveniently left out information about a paid engagement in a verbal deal with Russia.
Additionally, they said he did not reveal or acknowledge his extra income even while he works to re-establish his status with the party. The former military officer was restricted from collecting payments under the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, which restricts the acceptance of any form of payments from foreign governments without approval from the secretary of the Army and the U.S Secretary of State.
Flynn purposefully hid unlawful payments
Ironically, Flynn back in January 2016, utilized the SF-86 clause to restore his status before he embarked on the trip to Moscow. The embattled Flynn while on the campaign trail with Trump had also received payment from a Turkish consultancy firm. According to Cummings, no approval or confirmation records were found for the payments he received, this clearly indicates that Flynn purposefully hid the acquired assets and committed an unlawful offense base on the SF-86 rule.
Additionally, Flynn's divulgence forms that he submitted in February 2017, to the White House did not reveal the payments he received from Russia or Turkey.
