Sources: Wall Street Journal, Washington Post
The timeline is damning.
• January 22 Flynn becomes national security advisor.
• Two days later, FBI interviews Flynn. Flynn tells lies about his conversations with Russia, the same lies Pence said earlier on TV.
• Two days after that, Sally Yates, the head of the Justice Department, together with the chief National Security prosecutor, meets with the official white house lawyer to explain that the FBI knows the truth about the conversations, there are tapes.
• Shortly afterwards, White house lawyer relays this information to Trump. Trump says “find out more.”
• The next day White house lawyer calls Yates back in, specifically asking legal questions about crimes Flynn has in fact committed: lying to the FBI, and unauthorized negotiation with foreign governments.
• That night Trump maneuvers FBI director Comey into a private dinner, and asks for his loyalty. Comey declines.