First on CNN: Russian officials bragged they could use Michael Flynn to influence Donald Trump, sources say https://t.co/thO9yURmms
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) May 20, 2017
According to a report by CNN, Russian officials "bragged" that they had a strong relationship with Gen. Michael Flynn, Trump's former adviser during the 2016 campaign. Trump reportedly wanted to bring Gen. Flynn back to the White House, and Trump's team was allegedly aware of the investigation Flynn was under for being a lobbyist for Turkey during the election. Trump also came under fire recently for allegedly asking Former FBI Director James Comey to stop his investigation into Flynn.
The conversations by the Russians regarding Flynn were picked up by U.S. intelligence officials, though according to CNN, officials also warned that the Russians may have been exaggerating their sway over Flynn. Flynn's relationship with Russia was considered "a five alarm fire early on," one former Obama administration told CNN. The conversations picked up by U.S. intelligence showed that the Russians thought of Flynn as an ally, though U.S. officials were most concerned with Flynn's December phonecall with Sergey Kislyak.
"We are confident that when these inquiries are complete there will be no evidence to support any collusion between the campaign and Russia," said a White House official to CNN, regarding the latest breaking news. "This matter is not going to distract the President or this administration from its work to bring back jobs and keep America safe."
The statement echoes other statements that have been released by the White House this week regarding the growing evidence that Russia may have interfered in the 2016 Presidential election.
This story is developing, for updates follow CNN.