Trump has 'full confidence' in embattled aide: adviser

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - President Donald Trump has "full confidence" in his national security advisor, Michael Flynn, a top Trump aide said Monday.

"Gen. Flynn does enjoy the full confidence of the President," Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway said on MSNBC.

The announcement is a stark departure from days of non-committal statements made by Trump spokespersons amid controversy over Flynn's contacts with Russian officials.

On Sunday, White House official Stephen Miller declined to answer whether Flynn still enjoys Trump's confidence, and the American president has not commented on the matter days after the Washington Post newspaper reported that Flynn discussed sanctions with Russian officials before Trump took office.

Flynn has said that he can't recall whether he discussed the economic penalties with Russia's Washington envoy before Trump took office.

But Vice President Mike Pence said on national television last month that Flynn's conversations with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak did not address the matter. The Post reported that an official told them that either Flynn misled Pence or Pence misspoke.