Ex-Trump adviser Flynn talking to Congress about testifying in Russia probe: lawyer ((In March 30 item, corrects spelling of Kislyak in paragraph 3)) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has offered to testify before congressional committees probing potential ties between the Trump campaign and Russia but wants protection against “unfair prosecution,” his lawyer said on Thursday. “General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit,” said a statement from Flynn’s lawyer, Robert Kelner. Testimony from Flynn could help shed light on the conversations he had with Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak last year when he was the national security adviser for Trump’s presidential campaign. Kelner said discussions had taken place about Flynn’s availability to testify with officials of the intelligence committees of both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. Both committees are investigating allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. election campaign last year as well as possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russians.    Flynn was forced to resign as Trump’s national security adviser in February for failing to disclose talks with the Russian ambassador before Trump took office about U.S. sanctions on Moscow and misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations. Questions remain about the scope of the discussions and what other contacts took place between other Trump advisers with the Russians. Earlier this week, the White House disclosed that Trump’s son-in-law and White House senior adviser, Jared Kushner, met executives of Russian state development bank Vnesheconombank, or VEB, in December. U.S. intelligence agencies have said Russia hacked emails of senior Democrats and orchestrated the release of embarrassing information in a bid to tip the presidential election in favor of Trump, whose views were seen as more in line with the Moscow’s. Russia has denied the allegations. Trump has dismissed suggestions of links with Moscow as Democratic sour grapes for losing the election. The Wall Street Journal, citing officials with knowledge of the matter, reported on Thursday that Flynn had sought immunity from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the House and Senate intelligence panels in exchange for his testimony. The newspaper said he had so far found no takers. The House denied the Journal report. “Michael Flynn has not offered to testify to HPSCI in exchange for immunity,” committee spokesman Jack Langer said in a statement. The FBI declined to comment. The Senate committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Kelner’s statement did not mention the FBI. He said Flynn “is now the target of unsubstantiated public demands by Members of Congress and other political critics that he be criminally investigated.” Kelner said Flynn would not “submit to questioning in such a highly politicized, witch hunt environment without assurances against unfair prosecution.”Independent Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CNN he could not confirm the Journal report, but “if that turns out to be the case, that’s a significant development I believe because it indicates that he has something important to say.” politicsNews
adviser flynn talking congress testifying russia probe lawyer in march item corrects spelling kislyak paragraph washington reuters donald trump former national security adviser michael flynn offered testify congressional committees probing potential ties trump campaign russia wants protection unfair prosecution lawyer said thursday general flynn certainly story tell much wants tell circumstances permit said statement flynn lawyer robert helper testimony flynn could help shed light conversations russian ambassador united states series kislyak last year national security adviser trump presidential campaign helper said discussions taken place flynn availability testify officials intelligence committees senate house representatives both committees investigating allegations russian meddling election campaign last year well possible ties trump campaign russian flynn forced resign trump national security adviser february failing disclose talks russian ambassador trump took office sanctions moscow misleading vice president mike pence conversations questions remain scope discussions contacts took place trump advisers russian earlier week white house disclosed trump white house senior adviser jared pusher met executives russian state development bank vnesheconombank web december intelligence agencies said russia hacked emails senior democrats orchestrated release embarrassing information bid tip presidential election favor trump whose views seen line moscow russia denied allegations trump dismissed suggestions links moscow democratic sour grapes losing election the wall street journal citing officials knowledge matter reported thursday flynn sought immunity federal bureau investigation house senate intelligence panels exchange testimony the newspaper said far found takers the house denied journal report michael flynn offered testify sci exchange immunity committee spokesman jack langer said statement the fbi declined comment the senate committee immediately respond request comment helper statement mention fbi he said flynn target unsubstantiated public demands members congress political critics criminally helper said flynn would submit questioning highly politicized witch hunt environment without assurances unfair independent senator angus king member senate intelligence committee told cnn could confirm journal report turns case significant development i believe indicates something important politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Ex-Trump adviser Flynn talking to Congress about testifying in Russia probe: lawyer ((In March 30 item, corrects spelling of Kislyak in paragraph 3)) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has offered to testify before congressional committees probing potential ties between the Trump campaign and Russia but wants protection against “unfair prosecution,” his lawyer said on Thursday. “General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit,” said a statement from Flynn’s lawyer, Robert Kelner. Testimony from Flynn could help shed light on the conversations he had with Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak last year when he was the national security adviser for Trump’s presidential campaign. Kelner said discussions had taken place about Flynn’s availability to testify with officials of the intelligence committees of both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. Both committees are investigating allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. election campaign last year as well as possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russians.    Flynn was forced to resign as Trump’s national security adviser in February for failing to disclose talks with the Russian ambassador before Trump took office about U.S. sanctions on Moscow and misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations. Questions remain about the scope of the discussions and what other contacts took place between other Trump advisers with the Russians. Earlier this week, the White House disclosed that Trump’s son-in-law and White House senior adviser, Jared Kushner, met executives of Russian state development bank Vnesheconombank, or VEB, in December. U.S. intelligence agencies have said Russia hacked emails of senior Democrats and orchestrated the release of embarrassing information in a bid to tip the presidential election in favor of Trump, whose views were seen as more in line with the Moscow’s. Russia has denied the allegations. Trump has dismissed suggestions of links with Moscow as Democratic sour grapes for losing the election. The Wall Street Journal, citing officials with knowledge of the matter, reported on Thursday that Flynn had sought immunity from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the House and Senate intelligence panels in exchange for his testimony. The newspaper said he had so far found no takers. The House denied the Journal report. “Michael Flynn has not offered to testify to HPSCI in exchange for immunity,” committee spokesman Jack Langer said in a statement. The FBI declined to comment. The Senate committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Kelner’s statement did not mention the FBI. He said Flynn “is now the target of unsubstantiated public demands by Members of Congress and other political critics that he be criminally investigated.” Kelner said Flynn would not “submit to questioning in such a highly politicized, witch hunt environment without assurances against unfair prosecution.”Independent Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CNN he could not confirm the Journal report, but “if that turns out to be the case, that’s a significant development I believe because it indicates that he has something important to say.” politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: adviser flynn talking congress testifying russia probe lawyer in march item corrects spelling kislyak paragraph washington reuters donald trump former national security adviser michael flynn offered testify congressional committees probing potential ties trump campaign russia wants protection unfair prosecution lawyer said thursday general flynn certainly story tell much wants tell circumstances permit said statement flynn lawyer robert helper testimony flynn could help shed light conversations russian ambassador united states series kislyak last year national security adviser trump presidential campaign helper said discussions taken place flynn availability testify officials intelligence committees senate house representatives both committees investigating allegations russian meddling election campaign last year well possible ties trump campaign russian flynn forced resign trump national security adviser february failing disclose talks russian ambassador trump took office sanctions moscow misleading vice president mike pence conversations questions remain scope discussions contacts took place trump advisers russian earlier week white house disclosed trump white house senior adviser jared pusher met executives russian state development bank vnesheconombank web december intelligence agencies said russia hacked emails senior democrats orchestrated release embarrassing information bid tip presidential election favor trump whose views seen line moscow russia denied allegations trump dismissed suggestions links moscow democratic sour grapes losing election the wall street journal citing officials knowledge matter reported thursday flynn sought immunity federal bureau investigation house senate intelligence panels exchange testimony the newspaper said far found takers the house denied journal report michael flynn offered testify sci exchange immunity committee spokesman jack langer said statement the fbi declined comment the senate committee immediately respond request comment helper statement mention fbi he said flynn target unsubstantiated public demands members congress political critics criminally helper said flynn would submit questioning highly politicized witch hunt environment without assurances unfair independent senator angus king member senate intelligence committee told cnn could confirm journal report turns case significant development i believe indicates something important politicsnews