After President Trump was sworn in on Jan. 20, Mr. Comey pondered the possibility that the Russians could blackmail the new national security adviser.
He appeared to reassure the Kremlin not to worry about the Obama administration’s sanctions, and
that once Mr. Trump was in office and Mr. Flynn took over at the N. S.C., the nerve center for secret intelligence at the White House, things would be better for the Russians.
He took his concerns to his immediate superior — the acting attorney general of the United States, Sally Yates —
and she, in turn, went directly to the White House and relayed that warning.
Two of President Ronald Reagan’s national security counselors, Robert McFarlane and John Poindexter, left in disgrace.
Mr. Flynn, needless to say, did not check in with Mr. Comey before his conversations with Ambassador Kislyak seven weeks ago.
Michael Flynn’s sudden resignation from the National Security Council may seem unprecedented.