WATCH: Richard Blumenthal Demands Action On Michael Flynn’s Russia Cash

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By Daniel J. Solomon April 27, 2017

Richard Blumenthal demanded punishment for former national security adviser Michael Flynn after revelations that he received payments from the Russian government without pre-approving or disclosing that compensation, as required by federal law.

Blumenthal: “powerful, mounting, incontrovertible evidence that there has been a violation of criminal law” by Flynn; “must be … prosecuted” pic.twitter.com/cK25d7Efgm

— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) April 27, 2017

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Citing “powerful, mounting, incontrovertible evidence that there has been a violation of criminal law,” the Connecticut Senate Democrat demanded the Justice Department appoint a special prosecutor to look into the Flynn case and bring charges.

Right now, the inspector general of the Defense Department is probing Flynn’s behavior. After leaving his post as an intelligence official three years ago, Flynn accepted $45,000 to give a speech at an event organized by Russia Today, the media arm of the Russian government. Documents from the Pentagon show that he knew there was a pre-approval and disclosure requirement.

Blumenthal and other Democrats have demanded the special prosecutor because they believe the White House is attempting a “cover-up” on Flynn’s behalf, refusing to release to Congress documents seen as relevant to the Flynn inquiry. Democrats on the House Government Reform and Oversight committee want to subpoena the materials, but so far the majority Republicans have stymied that effort.

Contact Daniel J. Solomon at solomon@forward.com or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon

Daniel J. Solomon is the former Assistant to the Editor/News Writer at the Forward. Originally from Queens, he attended Harvard as an undergraduate, where he wrote his senior thesis on French-Jewish intellectual history. He is excited to have returned to New York after his time in Massachusetts. Daniel’s passions include folk music, cycling, and pointed argument.

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