Disgraced National Security Adviser Michael Flynn is currently under investigation for collusion with Russia and failing to disclose that he was on the payroll of both Russia and Turkey while serving in the Trump White House. If that weren’t enough, we now learn that Flynn and his son, Michael Jr., agreed to kidnap a Muslim cleric living in the United States and turn him over to Turkish authorities in exchange for $15 million in cash.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Special Counsel Robert Mueller is now investigating a scheme that hatched in February of 2016. The plan was for Flynn and his son to kidnap Fethullah Gulen and then hand him over to Turkey. The Turks blame Gulen for the failed coup which took place in July of 2016 and accuse him of fomenting revolution from his home in Pennsylvania. Turkish authorities have repeatedly asked the United States to extradite Gulen.
According to the Journal:
“Federal Bureau of Investigation agents have asked at least four individuals about a meeting in mid-December at the ‘21’ Club in New York City, where Mr. Flynn and representatives of the Turkish government discussed removing Mr. Gulen, according to people with knowledge of the FBI’s inquiries. The discussions allegedly involved the possibility of transporting Mr. Gulen on a private jet to the Turkish prison island of Imrali, according to one of the people who has spoken to the FBI.”
Both Flynn and his son are already under investigation by both the special counsel and multiple Congressional committees for their role in the 2016 election and possibly being part of a conspiracy with Russia to assure that Donald Trump was elected president.
Before he joined the Trump administration, Flynn Sr. accepted large sums of money from Russia and Turkey for what was described as lobbying and consulting work.
In recent days, it has been reported that Flynn Sr. may be willing to cooperate with the Mueller probe in exchange for leniency on his son, who could be facing years in prison if indicted and convicted.
Featured Image Via Gage Skidmore for Flickr under a CC 2.0 License
