Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 09:33 pm
Less than a day after being chosen, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be his national security adviser has been reported for a potential violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
The Democratic Coalition Against Trump explained how they think Flynn violated the law:
The Democratic Coalition Against Trump reported Trump national security adviser Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn to the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Mary McCord, on Friday afternoon for possibly breaking the law by failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
…..
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
According the complaint DCAT submitted to Assistant Attorney General McCord, if Flynn conducted political or quasi-political activities seeking to influence the government or public of the United States on behalf of a foreign principal, he was required under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) to have disclosed detailed information to the Department of Justice.
By publicly advocating for policies on behalf of President Erdogan and the Turkish government while working for Kamil Ekim Alptekin and Inovo BV, especially by penning the op-ed in The Hill and failing to register with the Department of Justice as foreign agent, Flynn may have violated FARA.
While foreign agents who disclose lobbying activity for foreign principals under the Lobbying Disclosure Act are exempt from registering under FARA, lobbying for foreign governments or political parties is never exempted, and it is unclear whether or not Flynn’s activities qualifies for this exemption. Neither Flynn nor his company ever registered under FARA.
Trump chose a man to counsel him on national security who has questionable relationships with foreign governments and may have violated the law by working as a foreign agent and not registering with the Department of Justice.
President-elect Trump’s nominee to be Attorney General is already facing intense pushback for his racial views, and now the man Trump picked to advise him on national security could find himself in legal trouble. The potential for corruption among those involved with the incoming Trump administration is striking.
These conflicts of interest and illegal acts are serious red flags that would normally bar a person high-level public service, but the Trump administration potentially illegal acts and conflicts of interest appear to be job prerequisites.
It is easy to see what could be potentially coming a mile away. What is more difficult to predict is the damage that the Trump team will do to the country.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
