Flynn asks Russia not to escalate after Obama imposes election-interference sanctions

Date: 2016-12-29
Entry type: transition-foreign-contact
Current status: Conduct formed the basis of Flynn's false-statement plea; Trump later pardoned him

The incoming national security adviser discussed sanctions with Ambassador Kislyak, then gave Pence and investigators false accounts of those calls.

Entities and roles

Donald J. Trumpnational security adviser and clemency recipientMichael Flynn
legalpoliticaldocumented2 sourcesCited claim 1

factdocumented
At the direction of a senior transition official, Flynn asked Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak to avoid escalating after U.S. sanctions for election interference and later discussed Russia's response. Flynn then denied the sanctions discussion to Pence and made materially false statements to the FBI. The Mueller report found Russia chose not to retaliate after the request, while not charging Flynn for the contact itself.
- U.S. Department of Justice, Special Counsel's Office: Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential ElectionVolume I, pages 167–173 and Volume II, pages 24–48: calls, transition direction, Russian response, and false accounts
- U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney: Pardons Granted by President Donald J. Trump (2017–2021)November 25, 2020 Flynn pardon record