washington white house say monday national security adviser michael flynn hold two phone call russia ambassador washington amid report flynn communications scrutinize u.s. counterintelligence agents reuters report early month cite three source familiar matter flynn hold five phone call russian ambassador sergei kislyak dec. 29 day then-president barack obama retaliate moscow interference u.s. presidential election white house press secretary sean spic say flynn speak telephone envoy give date discuss four topics include conference syria plane crash kill members famous russian military choir seasonal wish set post-inauguration call russian president vladimir putin president donald trump say jan. 13 spic say flynn kislyak speak dec. 28 suggest sole topic logistics set eventual call trump putin time trump aide say one conversation actually take place dec. 29. monday spic say second call take place three days ago apparently trump inauguration friday deal arrange forthcoming phone call trump putin two source tell reuters early month time december call raise question whether flynn give kislyak assurances soothe russian anger u.s. sanction move differ account number call could immediately reconcile wall street journal report sunday flynn call kislyak dec. 29 well early call hold russian figure scrutiny part probe fbi u.s. intelligence agencies treasury department extent russian government contact people close trump unclear whether inquiry produce incriminate evidence continue newspaper say journal quote white house spokeswoman sarah sanders say absolutely knowledge investigation even basis investigation ask whether call flynn members russian government spic reply aware say say transition ask general flynn whether conversations beyond ambassador say no flynn retire army general jan. assessment u.s. intelligence agencies say putin order effort help trump electoral chance discredit democrat hillary clinton 2016 presidential campaign white house dispute multiple call trump adviser russian envoy