Barack Obama warned newly elected President Donald Trump against hiring Michael Flynn as national security adviser, the White House has confirmed. Flynn, a retired army lieutenant-general, misled the Trump administration about discussing US sanctions against Russia with the country's envoy, Sergei Kislyak, before the inauguration. The Obama administration fired Mr Flynn from his role as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014, citing issues of mismanagement and temperament. Obama's warning to Trump came before concerns emerged about Mr Flynn's contacts with the Russian ambassador, a former Obama official told NBC News. "Additionally, why did the Obama administration let Flynn go to Russia for a paid speaking engagement and receive a fee?"

Source: The Star May 09, 2017 03:00 UTC