DOD refers report on Flynn to the US Army on receiving payments as a foreign agent without permission. Flynn faces tens of thousands of dollars in fines.
Flynn received nearly $600,000 in 2015-6 to represent Turkish and Russian interests. He did not seek permission for the DOD before becoming a agent for two foreign countries, as required by DOD guidelines. Nor did he register as a foreign agent before Trump fired him for lying to Mike Pence.
Apparently the US Army punishes emoluments violations.
The Defense Department's internal watchdog has concluded a long-delayed investigation into Michael Flynn, defense officials said Friday, sending its findings to the Army in a case that could bring tens of thousands of dollars in financial penalties for former president Donald Trump's first national security adviser.
The investigation focuses on Flynn's acceptance of money from Russian and Turkish interests before joining the Trump administration, a potential violation of the Cons ution's emoluments clause. With few exceptions, U.S. officials, including retired service members like Flynn, are prohibited from accepting money or gifts from foreign governments. Flynn retired from the Army as a three-star general in 2014.
The inspector general's investigation, opened in April 2017, was put on hold for more than three years amid a broader scandal that included a criminal investigation of Flynn by the Justice Department — part of what would become the investigation of Trump's first presidential campaign and Russian interference in the 2016 election led by former FBI director Robert Mueller III.https://www.stripes.com/news/us/army...-firm-1.665623After Trump's pardon, the Justice Department gave approval for the Defense Department inspector general's office to resume its investigation, said Dwrena Allen, a spokeswoman for acting inspector general Sean O'Donnell. The watchdog's office closed its investigation one week after the Biden administration took office, and forwarded its findings to the Army.
"On January 27, 2021, we closed our investigation against LTG Flynn and forwarded several administrative matters to the Acting Secretary of the Army for review and appropriate action," Allen's statement said. LTG stands for lieutenant general, Flynn's rank at retirement.