EXCLUSIVE Obama Warned Trump Against Hiring Mike Flynn, Say Officials
EXCLUSIVE NEWS MAY 8 2017, 11:20 AM ET
Obama Warned Trump Against Hiring Mike Flynn, Say Officials
by KRISTEN WELKER, PETER ALEXANDER, DAFNA LINZER and KEN DILANIAN
Former President Obama warned President Donald Trump against hiring Mike Flynn as his national security adviser, three former Obama administration officials tell NBC News. The warning, which has not been previously reported, came less than 48 hours after the November election when the two sat down for a 90-minute conversation in the Oval Office.
The revelation comes on a day that former acting Attorney General Sally Yates is expected to testify that Flynn misled the White House about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States.
NBC News has asked the Trump administration for a response.
According to all three former officials, Obama warned Trump against hiring Flynn. The Obama administration fired Flynn in 2014 from his position as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, largely because of mismanagement and temperament issues.
Obama's warning pre-dated the concerns inside the government about Flynn's contacts with the Russian ambassador, one of the officials said. Obama passed along a general caution that he believed Flynn was not suitable for such a high level post, the official added.
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http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/obama-warned-trump-against-hiring-mike-flynn-say-officials-n756316