Tag Archives: Turkey

Politico reports: The family of former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn has set up a legal defense fund for him, soliciting donations to ease the “tremendous financial burden” from the ongoing investigations into his actions and the 2016 presidential campaign. “The enormous expense of attorneys’ fees and other related expenses far exceed their ability to pay,” Flynn’s brother …

The Associated Press reports: Embattled former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has opened a new consulting firm called Resilient Patriot, LLC that is advising private equity firms, according to one of his brothers, who says Flynn is “moving on with his life.” Joe Flynn said his family also is in the early stages of starting a fund to pay for …

Billboard Magazine reports: Orchestral performances are often considered the most high-art of music events, but things did get a little ruff at a recent Vienna Chamber Orchestra concert in Ephesus, Turkey, when a wandering dog came onstage during a performance of Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony No. 4. In a new video, a very slow-moving, sandy-colored Labrador finds himself onstage, garnering a …

NBC News reports: Activists gathered for gay Pride in Istanbul Sunday in defiance of a ban by authorities, and despite riot police who used tear gas to disperse crowds. Dozens turned up to wave rainbow flags and LGBT banners, watched by much larger numbers of Turkish riot officers as well as far-right protesters. There were more than two dozen arrests, …

Reuters reports: Istanbul’s governor has banned a gay and transgender pride march which was due to take place in the city on Sunday, citing security concerns after threats from an ultra-nationalist group. It will be the second year running that Istanbul’s LGBT march, described in the past as the biggest in the Muslim world, has been blocked by city authorities. …

Turkey’s Hurriyet Daily News reports: The Alperen Hearths, an ultra-nationalist youth organization linked to right-wing nationalist Great Union Party (BBP), has threatened the LGBT Pride March set to take place on June 25 in Istanbul’s Taksim Square, vowing to prevent the march from taking place. “If the state allows it, we will not. We will not allow them to walk. …

The Associated Press reports: President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination on Monday and declined to hand over documents sought under subpoena by a Senate panel investigating Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election. In a letter to the Senate intelligence committee , Flynn’s attorneys justified the decision by citing an “escalating public …

The Associated Press reports: Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will invoke his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination on Monday as he notifies the Senate Intelligence committee that he will not comply with a subpoena seeking documents. That’s according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private interactions …

NBC News reports: A top Republican has clarified that while former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn hasn’t yet cooperated with the Senate Intelligence Committee, his lawyers have “not yet indicated their intentions” regarding a subpoena issued last week for documents relevant to the panel’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. North Carolina Republican and Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman …

Whoa. McClatchy reports: One of the Trump administration’s first decisions about the fight against the Islamic State was made by Michael Flynn weeks before he was fired – and it conformed to the wishes of Turkey, whose interests, unbeknownst to anyone in Washington, he’d been paid more than $500,000 to represent. The decision came 10 days before Donald Trump had …

Newsweek reports: Footage has emerged of a mass brawl outside the Turkish embassy in Washington during which men believed to be Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bodyguards are seen attacking protesters just hours after the Turkish president’s meeting with Donald Trump. The brawl ensued as Erodgan’s security detail and pro-Erdogan supporters confronted Kurdish and Armenian demonstrators. A video—posted by Voice of America—showed …

Politico reports: The Pentagon’s inspector general is now investigating Michael Flynn over payments he received from foreign governments after retiring from the Army, according to documents released Thursday by the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. The documents also show the Defense Intelligence Agency warned Flynn after his 2014 retirement as the agency’s director that he was barred from …

The Hill reports: Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday said that the House Oversight Committee’s latest findings that former national security adviser Michael Flynn might have broken the law “may be just the tip of the iceberg.” “The disturbing news that General Flynn may have violated the law in connection with his security clearance may be just the …

Today should be fun. Via Patch: White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer will deliver a televised briefing Tuesday at 2 p.m. Earlier in the day, the leaders of the House Oversight Committee revealed that former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn may have acted inappropriately or illegally by failing to document his dealings with foreign governments as a retired military officer, …

Haaretz reports: U.S. President Donald Trump called Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan to congratulate him on winning a referendum expanding his authority, sources in Erdogan’s palace said on Monday. Turkey voted on Sunday to switch to a presidential system, greatly increasing Erdogan’s powers. Unofficial results, which the opposition said it would challenge, showed a narrow victory for him with 51.4 percent …

The Associated Press reports: CNN national security analyst Juliette Kayyem cited unnamed sources and the fact that Michael Flynn has not been called upon to testify under oath before the House Intelligence Committee as evidence that the former Trump adviser may have “cut a deal with the FBI.” “It’s not that interesting to me because I don’t think they’ll be under …

The Daily Beast reports: The White House’s former top national security official did not sign an ethics pledge ostensibly required of all Trump administration appointees barring them from ethically questionable lobbying activities, The Daily Beast has learned. A spokesman for former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn confirmed on Tuesday that Flynn did not sign the pledge during his brief tenure. …

Raw Story reports: MSNBC host Rachel Maddow continues her investigations into President Donald Trump’s complicated ties to foreign governments. Last night’s installment was about the tangled web of retired Gen. Michael Flynn’s connections to Russia and now Turkey.Last night, in an interview with Bret Baier on Fox News, Vice President Mike Pence said that the story about Flynn and Turkey …

Raw Story reports: Fox News reporter Chris Wallace on Friday said it was “inconceivable” that Donald Trump was unaware of former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s lobbying work with a company connected to the Turkish government while serving as an adviser on his campaign. Reporters, including Fox’s John Roberts, grilled White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer over reports that a …

NBC News reports: The White House has confirmed the president’s transition team was informed before Inauguration Day that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn might need to register as a foreign agent with the Justice Department. That’s according to a White House official and a person with direct knowledge of discussions between transition lawyers and Flynn representatives. The White House …