Michael Flynn resigns as Donald Trump's National Security Adviser after Russia dealings scandal

Retired General Michael T. Flynn, who was picked by Donald Trump as National Security Adviser, resigned in the middle of a scandal because of the accusations against him talking illegally to Russia about US sanctions. He served as Security Adviser for less than a month since Trump took office.

According to The New York Times, Flynn mislead Vice President Mike Pence and other White House officials about his conversaions with the embassador of Russia, Sergey I. Kislyak, on the subject of sanctions to Russia back in December of 2016, before Trump took office.

Because of the fact that Flynn had not told the whole truth to Pence and other White House officials --and Pence had already denied Flynn had talked to Russia about sanctions-- the Justice Department considered Flynn could at risk of being blackmailed by Russia.

The New York Times published:

But current Trump administration officials and former Obama administration officials said that Mr. Flynn did appear to be reassuring the ambassador that Mr. Trump would adopt a more accommodating tone on Russia once in office.

Former and current administration officials said that Mr. Flynn urged Russia not to retaliate against any sanctions because an overreaction would make any future cooperation more complicated. He never explicitly promised sanctions relief, one former official said, but he appeared to leave the impression that it would be possible.

On top of that, the Army had been investigating if Flynn received money from Russia, in violation of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, which prohibits former military officers from receiving money from a foreign government without consent from Congress.

It should be noted that both, Flynn and his son, Michael Flynn Jr, used to tweet fake news against Hillary Clinton during the presidential campaign in 2016, and that Flynn Jr.'s insisting on defending the so-called "pizzagate" fake news story after a man shot an assault rifle at a pizza parlor because the fake news, cost him getting fired from Trump's transition team.

This is the very first, full-fledged resignation in Trump's first circle since he took office, and it shows just how poorly matters of foreign policy have been handled by Trump and his advisers.