WASHINGTON — The White House battled Tuesday to insulate Donald Trump from a scandal over his top aide’s contacts with Russia, as it emerged that the president was aware of the problem for weeks before acting. The White House had painted Trump’s final decision as based on Flynn having misled Vice President Mike Pence. Flynn is the third Trump aide to step back amid questions about his ties to Russia since the mogul began his improbable White House bid. Amid the tumult, the White House denied that Trump had instructed Flynn to discuss the possibility that Obama-era sanctions would be rolled back. No, no, no," said White House spokesman Sean Spicer, when asked whether such a conversation took place.

Source: Viet Nam News February 15, 2017 04:55 UTC