{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-shaheen-call-on-top-intelligence-officials-to-review-security-clearance-given-lt-gen-michael-flynn", "Blumenthal, Shaheen Call on Top Intelligence Officials to Review Security Clearance Given Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal, Shaheen Call on Top Intelligence Officials to Review Security Clearance Given Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLetter sent to FBI Director James Comey, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and OPM Acting Director Beth Colbert draws attention to Gen. Flynn\u2019s record of mishandling classified intelligence, potential conflicts of interest with foreign actors  Flynn\u2019s conduct \u201cappears inconsistent with the professionalism such access requires\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 14, 2016\n\t\t\t[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) sent a letter to the nation\u2019s top intelligence officials to ask that they review the security clearance given to retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, who has been selected by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as national security advisor. The letter, sent to U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Beth Cobert, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey, and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, says that Gen. Flynn\u2019s \u201cconduct in positions that require access to national defense information, and his subsequent private practice, appears inconsistent with the professionalism such access requires.\u201d\r\nIn their letter, Blumenthal and Shaheen draw attention to Gen. Flynn\u2019s reported record of mishandling classified intelligence, as first reported in the New Yorker, and his conduct following his military service, including a paid trip Gen. Flynn made to Russia to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Russian government\u2019s propaganda arm, Russia Today.\r\nBlumenthal and Shaheen also highlighted potential conflict of interests related to Gen. Flynn\u2019s ownership of the Flynn Intel Group, which was previously registered to lobby on behalf of foreign clients. The Senators write, \u201cThis ongoing business relationship of Flynn Intel Group, owned by General Flynn and operated by his son, creates the potential for pressure, coercion, and exploitation by foreign agents. In addition, any share of partnership profits he obtains from the Flynn Intel Group that are derived from its representation of a foreign government would appear to be a violation of his obligation as a retired general to abide by the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution.\u201d\r\nThe full text of the Senators\u2019 letter is below:\r\nDecember 9, 2016\r\n\r\nThe Honorable Beth F. Cobert\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Honorable James Comey\r\nActing Director\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Director\r\nU.S. Office of Personnel Management\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Federal Bureau of Investigation\r\n1900 E Street, NW\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\r\nWashington, D.C.\u00a0 20415\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Washington, D.C.\u00a0 20535\r\n\r\nThe Honorable James R. Clapper  Director of National Intelligence  Office of the Director of National Intelligence  1500 Tysons McLean Drive  McLean, VA\u00a0 22102\r\nDear Acting Director Cobert, Director Comey, Director Clapper:\r\nWe write to request that you review the security clearance given to retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn. Based on public reports, his conduct in positions that require access to national defense information, and his subsequent private practice, appears inconsistent with the professionalism such access requires.\u00a0\r\nGeneral Flynn reportedly has a record of mishandling classified intelligence and repeatedly violated rules for protecting sensitive information. The New Yorker magazine published an article on November 23, 2016, that documented violations handling protected information by General Flynn, who \u201chad technicians secretly install an Internet connection in his Pentagon office, even though it was forbidden.\u201d He is also reported to have knowingly provided highly sensitive compartmented information and code word classified information about the Haqqani terrorist network to Pakistan. Further, he was investigated for leaking highly classified information to several other countries and recently made public comments defending and encouraging such illegal practices.\r\nWe are also concerned by General Flynn\u2019s conduct after his military service. On December 10, 2015, General Flynn was paid to attend an event in Moscow celebrating the tenth anniversary of Russia Today, a propaganda arm of the Russian government. Although he has not disclosed how much he received in speaking fees or who paid for the travel expenses, he dined with Vladimir Putin, just 18 months after leaving his position leading the Defense Intelligence Agency. As a retired general, he is prohibited from receipt of consulting fees, gifts, travel expenses, honoraria, or any kind of salary from a foreign government without Congressional consent. We request that you investigate General Flynn\u2019s compliance with the requirements of 37 U.S.C. \u00a7 908 in this instance, and any other such occurrences, and provide us with all records held by the U.S. Army Human Resources Command of any such approval.\r\nIn addition, General Flynn appears to have an unresolved conflict of interest in his ownership of the Flynn Intel Group. His company has previously registered to lobby on behalf of Turkish businessman Kamil Ekim Alptekin and received compensation to persuade U.S. public opinion in favor of Turkey\u2019s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. General Flynn did this through an opinion piece published in The Hill on November 8, 2016. General Flynn\u2019s firm also represented an Iraqi paramilitary organization trained by the Turkish government. Subsequently, he indicated that he would separate from his business representing foreign interests by having his son Michael Flynn Jr. remain in control and make a livelihood from such payments.\r\nThis ongoing business relationship of Flynn Intel Group, owned by General Flynn and operated by his son, creates the potential for pressure, coercion, and exploitation by foreign agents. In addition, any share of partnership profits he obtains from the Flynn Intel Group that are derived from its representation of a foreign government would appear to be a violation of his obligation as a retired general to abide by the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution.\u00a0\r\nWe trust you to investigate these matters thoroughly, and request that you provide us with the documentation we have requested. Please keep us apprised of any decision regarding this matter.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-shaheen-call-on-top-intelligence-officials-to-review-security-clearance-given-lt-gen-michael-flynn"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8878898806869984, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}