WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser, White House national security adviser, and retired Lt. General Michael T. Flynn pleaded guilty in a deal with the Special Counsel investigating foreign meddling in the 2016 elections, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), an ex officio member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued the following statement:

“Today’s admission of guilt raises serious questions about both Flynn’s judgment and Trump’s credibility.  It is further evidence that members of the Trump campaign appear to have engaged in unpatriotic and criminal activity and were undermining U.S. policy and working counter to American interests.

“This is now the fourth senior Trump associate to face federal criminal charges, and second to plead guilty.

“At some point in the near future, the President himself should answer questions under oath about his role in terms of what he did and what he - or senior members of his team - directed others to do.  He owes the American people honest, straightforward answers.  We live in the greatest country on earth, and protecting our democracy starts with protecting our elections.

“It is disturbing that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin seem to be birds of a feather in terms of refusing to acknowledge Russian interference in our 2016 presidential election.  The American people deserve to know why.  They deserve the facts.  Today’s plea deal is further proof that this is not a ‘witch hunt.’  It is an evolving and much-needed criminal investigation.”