US President Trump: Flynn investigation a 'ruse'

President Donald Trump reiterated claims on Wednesday that the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn was "a ruse" and said what happened to Flynn was "a disgrace."

When asked if he's considering a pardon of Flynn, Trump said he "won't talk about that," but added that "he's going to be okay."

The Justice Department's dismissal of Flynn's case has been swept up in a broader push by Trump and Republican allies to reframe the Russia investigation as a plot to sabotage his administration.

That sets the stage for a fresh onslaught of election year attacks on Democratic officials and law enforcement leaders.

Current and former administration officials and Republicans close to the White House say Trump and his allies plan to weaponize the Flynn development to paint Democrats as corrupt.

The decision to drop charges against Flynn stunned former law enforcement officials involved in the case. Some say the Justice Department is rewriting history and omitting key context.

Trump said Wednesday he didn't believe that former Vice President Joe Biden "knew nothing" about Flynn's case and claimed Biden was one of the people who implicated Flynn.

Advisers believe painting the previous administration as corrupt can distract from a pandemic crisis that has crippled the economy and killed tens of thousands of people in the U.S. and can prove an effective line of attack against Trump's Democratic opponent, Biden according to four current and former administration officials and Republicans close to the White House not authorized to discuss the matter by name.

During the meeting with governors to discuss coronavirus recovery plans, Trump also addressed alleged reports of explosions in Afghanistan.

"We're not fighting in Afghanistan, we're a police force in Afghanistan, and at some point they're going to have to be able to take care of their country," he said.