RICHARD BLUMENTHAL eng ea es es
a Wnited States Senate ea
oe masanoton. 28 cae
Seer ere ‘November 30, 2017, ‘niece
‘The Honorable Michael R. Pence
Vice President ofthe United States
‘The White House
Office ofthe Vice President
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Vice President Pence,
Lite regarding several reports concerning Michael Flynn's work on the Trump transition
‘eam and in the Trump White House raising serious eoncems about his actions on behalf of foreign
‘governments. As you well now, former FBI Director James Comey was fred by President Trump
afer the president asked him to “let go" of an ongoing investigation into Mz. Flynn's conduct. AS
‘member ofthe Senate Judiciary Commitee, Iam deeply eoncemed about Mr. Flynn’s potential
illicit eonfict of interest—central to our investigation of possible obstruction of justice by the
Administration. Moreover, asthe Ranking Member of the Subcommitie on the Constitution, [am
particularly alarmed about the potential separation of powers issues that are raised by the president
and his subordinates attempting to obstruct enforcement ofthe laws passed by Congress.
‘A recent report in the Wall Street Journal indicated that Michacl Flynn was offered $15
million to deliver Fethullah Glen, a Turkish exile living inthe United States, to Turkey, where he
‘would almost certainly face politically motivated charges atthe hands of the Erdogan government.
Mr. Flynn reportedly met with Turkish government officials in New York during the presidential
transition in December 2016. This meeting took place while Mr. Flynn was serving asa vice-chair
of the Trump transition team and after he had accepted then President-elect Trump’s offer to be
his National Security Advisor.
According to the FBI, during this meeting Mr. Flynn and the Turkish officials discussed
potentially illegal ways to transfer Mr. Gillen ftom the United States to Turkey outside of the
formal extradition process, including the possibility of abducting Mr. Galen. This conversation
was seportadly a follow up to an earlier meeting between Mr. Flynn and Turkish officials in
September 2016, when the topic of forced rendition of Mr. Glen was also discussed. Former CIA,
Director im Woolsey, who atended the September meeting atthe invitation of one of Mr. Flynn's
“James V. Grima, Shane Haris & Arua Viswanaiha, eller Probes Fly's Roe tn Alleged Plant Deliver
Clee to Turkey, THe Wats. STREET Joona. (Nov. 1, 2017, 5:33 AMD, ps/fwo ws} con/aiclesnuelier-
‘robes-lyanrle-valegedplan-o-delvr-cleie-totrke-151 0300932,associates, deseribed Mr. Glen's forced rendition as “possibly illegal"® and “a covert step in the
dead of night to whisk this guy away.”™
[Equally toubling is another recent report in the Washington Post alleging that Mr. Flynn
used his position in the White House to push business proposals with ties to Russia and China that
‘were backed by his former clients Mr. Flynn reportedly advocated forthe development of a s0-
called Marshall Plan for the Middle East, based on a proposal that was being pushed by 1P3, a
company he had advised during the eampaign, right up until just weeks before he became National
Security Advisor, 1P3's plan to build nuclear power plants in the Middle East was similar to that
of another one of Me. Flynn’s former clients, ACU Strategic Partners, which sought cooperation
with Russian interests, Mr, Flynn's actions once again strongly suggest possible conflicts of
interest while he was working onthe transition team and in the White House
Also of concem is Mr. Flynn's possible role in pressuring then-U'S. Attorney Preet Bharara,
to drop the prosecution of Reza Zamab, the Turkish-based businessman who has been charged with
violating stnetions against Iran. Various eredible reports indicate that the Erdogan government has
strong interes in seeing the charges against Zarrab dropped, and the Zarrab ease was reportedly
rajsed inthe same December mocting where Mr. Glen was discussed Given that Mr. Flynn has
‘worked as a lobbyist and an agent of the Erdogan government, tis issue presents yet another
instance of conflicts of interest during the transition and in the White House.
Tam deeply troubled by these reports and the possiblity that Mr. Flynn was acting as a
lobbyist on behalf of foreign nations within the Trump transition and Administration. I write to
you because, as chairman of the Trump transition team, you were responsible for overseeing Mr.
Flynn It is imperative that we lear the full extent of Mr. Flynn's hidden lobbying for special
interests or foreign interests while onthe transition team and in the White House, as well as any
‘undisclosed work he did for the Russian or Turkish governments, so that we may know his legal
liability,
‘Accordingly, I request that you provide all information and any relevant documents
pertaining tothe following questions:
® Andtow Kent, The Michoe! Flom Scandal shat Got A Lat Worse, FORTUNE (Mat. 27, 2017),
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Tames V" Griall, Dion Nissonbaum Marguee Cor, EvCIA Director: Mike Fyn and Turki Offa
Duscussed Removal of Erdogan Foe From U.S, Tie Waut, STREET JOURNAL Car. 24, 2017, 2:35 PMD,
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+ Gre ae, Cara Leong, Miche! Kreis & Tom Hamburger, aside the White Howse, Michael! Fj pushed
propaal from company he std he ad adried, Ty. WASHINGTON POST (Nov. 28, 2017, 738 PM).
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AND, hip: ww toda conturkls-businssman-rrs-nr-pende- ity wth possible implication ar-
Inshae yn sc also Carol. Lavandula Ase, heer Probing Posie Dea! Benen Tk, hn Daring,
Presdeto Transition, NBC NEWS (Nov. 10, 2017, 7-4 AN), hips nbnewscon/newss-aesnusl
probing posible del botweoytuks-yan-dring-psidentabranston-819616,Did Me. Flynn at any time disclose that he had been offered $15 million to deliver
Mr. Galen to Turkey?
What role did Me. Flynn play in discussions within the transition team related to
possible extradition of Mr. Gtlen to Turkey, either by legal means or by
extraordinary rendition?
What role did Mr. Flynn play in advancing the 1P3 “Marshall Plan” proposal
described inthe Washington Past article within the Trump transition team?
id Mr. Flynn at any time disclose that he had previously been a consultant for 1P3,
‘private company that had developed the proposal for a “Marshall Plan” for the
‘Middle Fast, and stood to benefit fom such a policy?
What role did Mr. Flynn play in discussions within the transition team or the
Administation related to the prosecution by Preet Bharara of Reza Zarrab?
Who on the Trump transition team was aware of Me, Flynn's relationship with the
following entities:
“The government of Russia
‘The government of Tukey
‘The government of China
13
ACU Strategic Partners
‘Thank you for your attention on this matter.
Sincerely,
fit Cbun ep
Richard Blumenthal
United States Senator
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on the Constitution
Senate Committe onthe Judiciary