Flynn’s son ‘is no longer involved in transition efforts’

by Ben Kamisar - 12/06/16 11:15 AM ET

The son of President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming national security adviser, who has sparked controversy with his public defense of a conspiracy theory that a Washington pizza place is a front for a child abuse ring run by Democrats, is no longer working with Trump’s transition team.

Trump spokesman Jason Miller told reporters Tuesday that Michael Flynn Jr., the son of former Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, had been helping his father with “administration and scheduling duties early on in the transition process.”

“He is no longer involved in transition efforts,” Miller added on a conference call with reporters.

{mosads}The Flynns have become embroiled in the controversy over the conspiracy theory, nicknamed “Pizzagate,” after an armed man walked into the Comet Ping Pong pizza place in Washington on Sunday, telling police he wanted to investigate the theory that accuses top Democrats like presidential nominee Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta of involvement in a child abuse ring.

While the incoming national security adviser has previously tweeted about conspiracies and similar allegations against top Democrats, his son has taken to Twitter to trumpet the conspiracy theory and accuse detractors of looking to hide the truth.

CNN reported on Monday that the younger Flynn had been given an official transition team email address, sparking questions about his involvement with the incoming administration. Vice President-elect Mike Pence told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Tuesday morning that the son has “no involvement in the transition team whatsoever.”

The Sunday arrest at the family-friendly pizza parlor has supercharged the debate over the dissemination of fake news, and a group of liberal organizations has called on Trump to rescind his appointment of the elder Flynn over the issue.

Tags Donald Trump Hillary Clinton Mike Pence