Udall Calls for Independent Investigation of Flynn and Russia's Involvement with the Trump Administration

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall , member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the resignation of National Security Adviser General Michael Flynn. Udall called for a full independent investigation into the influence of the Russian government on the Trump administration and the 2016 election.

"General Flynn's resignation underscores the urgent need for a full investigation into this administration's troubling associations with the Russian government. We need an independent investigation to determine whether General Flynn violated any federal laws by discussing sanctions policy with the Russian ambassador prior to being sworn in as national security adviser or misled federal officials in their investigation of his actions. And we need to ascertain the full extent of Russia's influence on President Trump and his inner circle.

"Today, the White House admitted that President Trump has known for weeks that General Flynn misled White House officials and Vice President Pence and that he was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail, yet he took no action against General Flynn until news reports made his possibly illegal and unethical conduct public. The American people deserve answers about what precisely President Trump and his advisers knew about General Flynn's communications with Russia, when they knew it, and whether anyone directed General Flynn to discuss U.S. sanctions policy with the Russian ambassador. And we need far more information about Russian interference in our election.

"National security and the sanctity of our democratic government are not Republican or Democratic issues. Attorney General Sessions is too close to the president. We need a thorough, independent investigation into any and all dealings between President Trump, his team and the Russian government."