Trump fully briefed on Flynn's calls with Russian ambassador, source says

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Krauthammer: Why did Flynn lie to VP Pence?

Syndicated columnist and Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer clarifies his 'cover-up without a crime' take on the Mike Flynn controversy, says intel community sent Trump a message: You messed with the wrong agency #Tucker

President Trump was given a comprehensive summary of the contents of his former-national security adviser Michael Flynn’s phone calls with the Russian ambassador prior to Flynn’s resignation, a source told Fox News.

Trump did not see the actual transcript of the communications, but the summary was delivered by people outside the White House. Trump has maintained that he believes Flynn did nothing wrong.

"Mike was doing his job," Trump said at a news conference Thursday. "He was calling countries and his counterparts ... I would have directed him to do it if I thought he wasn't doing it. I didn't direct him, but I would have directed him because that's his job."

Flynn was forced to resign Monday over discussions he had with Russian officials before Trump took office.

Flynn denied in an FBI interview last month that he had discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia with Moscow's ambassador to the United States, contradicting transcripts of intercepted communications between the two men, the Washington Post reported Thursday.

The Post reported that senior Justice Department and intelligence officials who reviewed the transcript of the December phone call said Flynn's statements were at least inappropriate because he suggested that Moscow could expect a reprieve from sanctions announced by then-President Barack Obama.