Steve King: Flynn was victim of ‘political assassination’

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) says former national security adviser Michael Flynn fell victim to “a political assassination” that ultimately led to his resignation earlier this week.

“And General Flynn has been subject to a political assassination here, regardless of what he did or didn’t say to President Trump or Vice President Pence,” King told CNN’s “New Day.”

King took issue with the leakers who provided news outlets with information about Flynn’s conversations with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak. 

{mosads}“Why didn’t they, if they really cared, why didn’t they take it directly to President Trump, to Vice President Pence?” King asked. “Have that conversation rather than leaking it out to The New York Times or The [Washington] Post. That is unpatriotic and is an act that undermines our American security.”

Flynn resigned late Monday after reports emerged that he discussed sanctions with Kislyak before Trump’s inauguration. Flynn originally told White House officials, including Pence, that he and Kislyak had not discussed sanctions in their conversations.

“We don’t know the extent of those conversations but I think that it came to the place where the change needed to be made,” King said of Flynn’s resignation.

When pressed, the Iowa congressman said he doesn’t know whether the officials leaking information are telling the truth, adding that he would like to see transcripts of the conversations between Flynn and Kislyak.