Conway says Flynn quit because he'd become 'lightning rod'

The storm over national security adviser Michael Flynn’s contacts with Russia made his situation “unsustainable,” prompting him to resign less than a month into the new administration, a top Trump aide says.

President Donald Trump, with Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, Vice President Mike Pence, White House press secretary Sean Spicer and National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, speaks on the phone with with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway tells NBC’s “Today” show that Flynn “knew he’d become a lightning rod” and made the decision to resign. Conway’s comments come one day after she said the president had “full confidence” in Flynn.

Flynn’s ouster appeared to be driven more by the idea that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials than by the content of his discussions with Russia’s ambassador to the US. Still, the matter deepened questions about Trump’s friendly posture toward Russia.

— AP