Michael Flynn omitted Russian income off initial financial disclosures

President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has initially failed to disclose that he received money from Russia's state-funded television network, RT, for a speech in Moscow and from Volga-Dnepr Airlines and cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Government Security Solutions Inc. for speaking about engagements in the United States in initial financial disclosures to the Office of Government Ethics.

Flynn's initial disclosures, which he submitted in mid-February, were made public as part of a White House release of financial disclosures of 180 White House officials.

However, Flynn's attorney Robert Kelner said that his client had only just commenced the financial disclosure filing process at the time he was leaving the White House.

 

"He filed a draft form explicitly listing his speakers bureau contract, and he expected to engage in the usual process of consultations with the White House Counsel's Office and OGE (Office of Government Ethics) regarding what he was expected to disclose. That process was suspended, however, after he resigned. When the White House asked him this week to complete the process and to itemize the specific speaking events, he did so," CNN quoted Kelner as saying.

The disclosure forms revealed that Flynn had made earned about USD1.5 million last year and received USD 827,055 in salary and bonus from his firm, Flynn Intel Group, alone.

He had disclosed a speaking engagement for a Russian TV network in the form but did not specify the amount he got received for it.

U.S. President Donald Trump has urged former national security advisor Michael Flynn to "ask for immunity" in the investigation into his Russia links, saying the probe is a witch hunt by the Democrats and the media.

"Mike Flynn should ask for immunity in that this is a witch hunt (excuse for big election loss), by media & Dems, of historic proportion!," the President tweeted.

Flynn is reportedly seeking immunity from prosecution in exchange for agreeing to testify about alleged links between the Kremlin and Trump's Presidential campaign.

Flynn, who played a crucial role in Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, was asked to resign after it became public that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence on conversations he had before moving into the White House, regarding sanctions on Russia with Sergey Kislyak, the Kremlin envoy in Washington.

Flynn, in his resignation letter, wrote that he "inadvertently" briefed top officials with incomplete information regarding his call with the Russian ambassador.

He had initially denied discussing sanctions with the Russian ambassador Kislyak during the transition, and Vice-President Pence also defended him in front of the media.