Trump blasts ‘criminal’ leaks by intelligence agencies over Flynn

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Trump blasts 'criminal' leaks by intelligence agencies over Flynn

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday assailed what he said were illegal and “criminal” leaks from U.S. intelligence agencies in the controversy over contacts with Russian officials that forced his national security adviser Michael Flynn to resign.

CGTN’s Owen Fairclough reports.
Follow Owen Fairclough on Twitter @owefair

Speaking at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump called Flynn a “wonderful man” and added: “I think it’s very, very unfair what’s happened to General Flynn, the way he was treated, and the documents and papers that were illegally, I stress that, illegally leaked.”

Flynn was forced to quit after misleading Vice President about his conversations with Russia before Trump took office. He denies crossing any lines or discussing sanctions against Russia.

This was also a time when Russia accused of sabotaging Hillary Clinton’s campaign through hacking.

Trump took opportunity to rubbish latest allegations and blame his own government for leaking intelligence.

U.S. lawmakers are demanding Michael Flynn testify before Congress. Some Republicans are even demanding an independent inquiry. They want to get to bottom of it as much as try to stop these internal battles between intelligence community and the White House.
For its part Russia’s says this is an internal matter for the United States.

Story by Reuters and CGTN.