Trump Team: Michael Flynn’s Call To Russia On Day Of Obama’s Sanctions Was To Wish “Merry Christmas”

Yeeeeah. New York Magazine reports:

On the same day that President Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats from the U.S. and imposed other sanctions in retaliation for the Kremlin’s alleged attempts to influence the presidential election, Donald Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, spoke on the phone several times to Russia’s ambassador to the U.S, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius reports. What’s unclear is why.

Incoming Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Friday that the call was placed to set up a post-inauguration phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But as Ignatius writes, contact between Flynn and ambassador Sergey Kislyak could constitute a violation of the Logan Act, a 1799 statute that bars citizens of the United States from attempting to influence a foreign government that is engaged in “disputes or controversies with the United States.” Not that it’s likely Flynn would be charged. There has been a grand total of one indictment under the Logan Act, and it was in 1803.

More from Mediaite:

Following a report in the Washington Post last night alleging retired Gen. Michael Flynn had spoken to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak several times in late December, CNN reported this morning that the Trump transition team confirmed the phone calls did take place. According to incoming White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for National Security Adviser exchanged texts and phone calls last month to wish the ambassador a Merry Christmas and to set up meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.