Trump: ‘Flynn was given the highest security clearance by the Obama Administration’

President Trump on Monday attacked the media, saying the “fake news” rarely talks about the fact that his former national security adviser received a security clearance from the Obama administration.

“General Flynn was given the highest security clearance by the Obama Administration — but the Fake News seldom likes talking about that,” the president tweeted Monday.

General Flynn was given the highest security clearance by the Obama Administration – but the Fake News seldom likes talking about that.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 8, 2017

Last month, White House press secretary Sean Spicer deflected blame for the firestorm surrounding Michael Flynn, saying he received his security clearance from the Obama administration.

Spicer signaled support for a Defense Department investigation into payments Flynn received from foreign groups in 2015, but he blamed former President Barack Obama’s team for clearing him.

“My only point is when Gen. Flynn came into the White House, he had an active security clearance that was issued during the Obama administration with all the information that’s being discussed that occurred in 2015,” Spicer told reporters. 

Spicer also brushed aside the notion that Trump has regrets over hiring Flynn, saying he “made the right decision at the right time.”

He added that Trump’s transition team and White House staff trusted the work of the previous administration.

“Why would you rerun a background check on someone who was the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency that had and did maintain a high-level security clearance?” he asked.

Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates, who was fired after her refusal to defend Trump’s controversial immigration executive order, is expected on Monday to give her account of the warnings she gave to the White House regarding Flynn’s contacts with the Russian ambassador to the U.S.