Trump Adviser Michael Flynn Plans to Sever Consulting Firm Ties if Tapped for Administration Move comes as Flynn Intel Group scrutinized for relationship with Turkish businessman By Paul Sonne and Brody Mullins
http://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-adviser-michael-flynn-plans-to-sever-consulting-firm-ties-if-tapped-for-administration-1479417634
WASHINGTON—Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, a top national-security adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, said Thursday he would sever his relationship with his consulting firm if he is tapped to serve in the administration, amid scrutiny of his company’s relationship with a Turkish businessman.
Trump has offered the job of national security adviser to Gen. Flynn, people familiar with the process said later Thursday.
In a statement released to The Wall Street Journal earlier in the day, Gen. Flynn said: “If I return to government service, my relationship with my company will be severed in accordance with the policy announced by President-elect Trump.”
The announcement comes as Gen. Flynn faces questions about a lobbying registration his company filed to represent a firm founded by Ekim Alptekin. The Turkish businessman says he hired Flynn Intel Group Inc. to help pursue the interests of his client, a non-Turkish energy company considering exports to Turkey.
Gen. Flynn’s statement also reflects what some of Mr. Trump’s senior advisers are facing as they seek to staff the White House while abiding by various rules and campaign promises regarding conflicts of interest and lobbying businesses.
Mr. Trump announced this week that he wouldn’t allow registered lobbyists to work for his transition team. He also said he wants to get influence-peddling out of his administration.
The former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Gen. Flynn is a vice chairman of the executive committee of Mr. Trump’s transition team. CONTINUE AT SITE
Comments are closed.
