News / Politics

Trump calls Russia probe 'witch hunt' as Flynn seeks immunity

Friday, 31 March 2017 7:47 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 31 March 2017 7:48 PM ]

This file photo taken on December 21, 2016 shows US President-elect Donald Trump (L) with National Security Adviser Lt. General Michael Flynn (C) and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus (R) at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by AFP)

US President Donald Trump has said an investigation into alleged ties between his campaign and Russia is a "witch hunt" by the mainstream media and Democrats.

Trump also supported an offer by his former national security advisor, Michael Flynn, for immunity in exchange for his testimony to officials investigating the alleged Russian meddling in the November presidential election.

"Mike Flynn should ask for immunity in that this is a witch hunt (excuse for big election loss), by media & Dems, of historic proportion!" Trump tweeted Friday.

The FBI, as well as the Senate and House intelligence committees, are investigating Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential election and any ties between Trump's associates and Moscow.

Earlier, Flynn agreed to testify as part of congressional probes into the matter as long as he is protected from prosecution.

His lawyer, Robert Kelner, said in a statement Thursday that his client has a story to tell but he seeks assurances against “unfair prosecution.”

He said that his client is facing "claims of treason and vicious innuendo" and that has been a factor into his negotiations with the intelligence committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate in Congress.

US National Security Adviser Mike Flynn (R) walks past Press Secretary Sean Spicer as he makes his way to the lectern during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 1, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

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Last month, Flynn was forced to resign after making misleading statements about talks he had held with Russia’s ambassador to the US concerning Washington's sanctions on Moscow.

The conversation, which took place before Trump’s inauguration, centered around lifting then-President Barack Obama’s sanctions against Russia. Any discussion of sanctions at that time would have amounted to a breach of US law barring private citizens engaging in foreign policy.

Flynn's tenure of just 24 days as national security advisor is the shortest in the history of the office.

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