DOTH PROTEST

Russian Lawmakers Mount Defense of Flynn

“Not just paranoia but something even worse.”

Russian lawmakers have launched into a public defense of U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who resigned Monday night over allegations that he misled President Trump and other officials about his contacts with the Kremlin. Flynn’s resignation letter conceded that he initially gave “incomplete information” about his calls with the Russian ambassador the U.S., during which he discussed newly imposed sanctions. According to reports from the Associated Press, Flynn was in frequent contact with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day those sanctions were announced by the Obama administration. Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the foreign affairs committee in Russian parliament, wrote on Facebook that the action is based on “not just paranoia but something even worse.” He added, “Either Trump hasn’t found the necessary independence and he’s been driven into a corner... or Russophobia has permeated the new administration from top to bottom.” Another member of Russian parliament, Alexei Pushkov, tweeted after the announcement: “It was not Flynn who was targeted but relations with Russia.”