White House Purging Michael Flynn Allies From National Security Council
Source: New York Times
White House Purging Michael Flynn Allies From National Security Council
By GLENN THRUSH and PETER BAKER AUG. 2, 2017
WASHINGTON The White House has engaged in a slow-motion purge of hard-line officials at the National Security Council in recent weeks, angering conservatives who complain that the foreign policy establishment is reasserting itself over a president who had promised a new course.
The latest to go was Ezra Cohen-Watnick, who ran the N.S.C.s intelligence division and, like others who have left, was originally appointed by Michael T. Flynn, President Trumps first national security adviser. Mr. Flynn resigned in February after it was disclosed that he misled Vice President Mike Pence and others about a telephone call with Russias ambassador.
Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster succeeded Mr. Flynn and has slowly tried to move out some of Mr. Flynns appointees. He initially tried to fire Mr. Cohen-Watnick earlier this year, only to be rebuffed by Stephen K. Bannon, the presidents chief strategist, and Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law and senior adviser. But Mr. Kushner dropped his opposition this week, according to someone with knowledge of the decision.
A fierce Trump loyalist, Mr. Cohen-Watnick drew attention when he and another White House official briefed Representative Devin Nunes, Republican of California and the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, on classified intelligence reports revealing that American intelligence agencies had conducted incidental surveillance of Mr. Trumps transition team. The briefing was intended to bolster Mr. Trumps unsubstantiated claim that President Barack Obama ordered phones tapped at Trump Tower.
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