White House names possible shortlist for Flynn replacement

FILE - In this Nov. 15, 2016, file photo, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg speaks to reporters at Trump Tower in New York. President Donald Trump named Kellogg as the acting national security adviser Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, and a senior administration official said he was one of three candidates the president was considering to replace Flynn on a permanent basis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) FILE - In this Nov. 15, 2016, file photo, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg speaks to reporters at Trump Tower in New York. President Donald Trump named Kellogg as the acting national security adviser Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, and a senior administration official said he was one of three candidates the president was considering to replace Flynn on a permanent basis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

By Associated Press February 14, 2017 12 min read

More about Trump’s team

NEW YORK – His administration dealt a significant blow after not even a month in office, President Donald Trump must now fill a vital national security post after the resignation of embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Flynn stepped down late Monday, ending days of speculation about his fate following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia.

Flynn conceded that discussions of sanctions may have come up during several calls with the Russian ambassador during the transition period leading up to Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration.

He acknowledged that he gave “incomplete information” about those discussions to Pence who, apparently relying on information from the national security adviser, initially said Flynn had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy

Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser and a senior administration official said he was one of three candidates the president was considering to replace Flynn on a permanent basis.