Flynn Could Owe Thousands In Penalties For Russia, Turkey Foreign Agent Work

Even with a Donald Trump pardon in his back pocket, Michael Flynn still could be facing consequences for his lobbying work on behalf of Russia and Turkey. The Defense Department’s Inspector General on Friday disclosed that it has ended its long-delayed investigation into Flynn and forwarded its final report and recommendations for administrative actions to the Army.

Flynn, who retired as a three-star general in 2014, could be hit with tens of thousands of dollars in financial penalties if he is found to have violated the Constitution’s emoluments clause which prohibits U.S. officials – including former service members – from accepting money or gifts from foreign governments.

The IG’s investigation began in April 2017, not long after Flynn was fired as Trump’s first national security adviser for lying to then Vice President Mike Pence. It had been put on hold for more than three years as the Mueller investigation churned on and Flynn was criminally prosecuted for lying to the FBI. Once Trump issued Flynn a pardon last November the Justice Department gave its approval for the IG’s office to resume its investigation. That inquiry concluded one week after President Joe Biden took office.

“On January 27, 2021, we closed our investigation against LTG Flynn and forwarded several administrative matters to the Acting Secretary of the Army for review and appropriate action,” according to a statement issued by a spokesperson for the Army IG’s office.

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The investigation focused on the $45,000 the retired general was paid to sit alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin at a 2015 gala dinner in Moscow and his work as a foreign agent representing Turkish interests for a Netherlands-based company. Flynn’s consulting company was paid $530,000 by that company.

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