Former acting attorney general Sally Yates is set to testify on Monday before the Senate Judiciary Committee about warnings she gave the White House about former national security adviser Michael Flynn's contacts with the Russian ambassador.
Trump is clearly rattled about the proceedings, blaming Obama for Flynn's security clearance and attempting to turn the conversation again, to leaks in a series of tweets early Monday:
General Flynn was given the highest security clearance by the Obama Administration – but the Fake News seldom likes talking about that.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/861554864542941185
Why so defensive?
CNN reported last week that Yates's testimony is expected to contradict the Trump administration's version of events:
In a private meeting January 26, Yates told White House Counsel Don McGahn that Flynn was lying when he denied in public and private that he had discussed US sanctions on Russia in conversations with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak. Flynn's misleading comments, Yates said, made him potentially vulnerable to being compromised by Russia, according to sources familiar with her version of events. She expressed “serious concerns” to McGahn, making it clear — without making a recommendation — that Flynn could be fired.
Yates' testimony May 8 will be the first time the former acting attorney general will publicly speak about the White House meeting. A source familiar with the situation says that Yates will be limited on what she can tell the Senate judiciary subcommittee because many of the details involving Flynn are classified, meaning there may only be a few new revelations.
Yates would not comment ahead of the testimony.
