President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for White House national security advisor “inappropriately shared” classified material about CIA operations in Afghanistan, a secret U.S. military investigation determined in 2010.
From The Hill
Ret. Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn’s sharing “was not done knowingly” and “there was no actual or potential damage to national security as a result,” the investigation concluded according to Army records obtained by the Washington Post.
But the outcome of the investigation, which Flynn had previously dismissed, raises new questions about a figure who has been criticized by Trump’s opponents for offensive comments about Islam and a propensity to boost conspiracy theories. The new details will surely be leaped on by opponents of the president-elect.
According to a four-page summary of the investigation obtained by the Post under the Freedom of Information Act, a Navy intelligence specialist complained that Flynn, who was then serving as head of U.S. military intelligence in Afghanistan, had wrongly shared information with “various foreign military officers and/or officials in Afghanistan.”
“[I]nappropriate sharing of United States classified information with various foreign military officers and/or officials occurred as a result of [Flynn’s] guidance and actions,” the investigation concluded.Former U.S. officials speaking with the Post said that the material included classified slides about CIA operations in Afghanistan.
The documents do not detail which country or countries Flynn allegedly gave the material to.
However, Flynn said in August that the case concerned British and Australian forces, both allies in NATO.
“The investigation on me was for sharing intelligence with the Brits and Australians in combat, and I’m proud of that one,” he told the Post in an August interview. “That was substantiated because actually I did it. But I did it with the right permissions when you dig into the investigation.
“I’m proud of that one. Accuse me of sharing intelligence in combat with our closest allies, please.”
There was an investigation, he added, “because that’s what the government does.”
The files claim that his sharing of information was done “without proper authorization.”
Flynn has also been accused of disclosing sensitive U.S. intelligence powers to the government of Pakistan, but there appears not to have been a formal investigation into the incident. Instead, he was reportedly verbally scolded by James Clapper, then the military’s chief intelligence official. Clapper is currently the outgoing director of national intelligence.
Flynn has separately described to the New Yorker how he would avoid “insane” rules set by the CIA and other intelligence agencies in Iraq and at the Pentagon.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Central Command, which at the time was led by Marine Gen. James Mattis. Trump has announced that he intends to appoint Mattis to become the secretary of Defense.
The investigation delayed a promotion for Flynn but its outcome ultimately did not result in any punishment.
Flynn’s son, Michael G. Flynn, called the story a “lie” on Twitter and appeared to cast doubts about the integrity of the investigation, which he placed in quotation marks. He also called the Washington Post a “FAKE news” organization and referred to it as “the Compost.”
The Compost continues to lie along w/ every other delusional liberal re: @GenFlynn record. Keep digging….. https://t.co/Ng5RwUZRRZ
— Michael G Flynn???????? (@mflynnJR) December 14, 2016
Another article by the failing FAKE news that is the Compost..should they continue to operate when they continue to get everything so wrong? https://t.co/m4YoNNnPJE
— Michael G Flynn???????? (@mflynnJR) December 14, 2016
You seem to forget he was TWICE appointed by the SENATE AFTER the “investigation”… https://t.co/m4YoNNnPJE
— Michael G Flynn???????? (@mflynnJR) December 14, 2016
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