washington pentagon inspector general launch investigation whether michael flynn u.s. president donald trump former national security adviser accept money foreign entities without require approval accord letter release house democrats thursday new probe compound legal problems flynn face take hundreds thousands dollars state-run russia today rt television network firm own turkish businessman former defense intelligence agency dia director retire army lieutenant general 2014. senior lawmakers say week flynn likely break law fail request receive permission accept 45,000 speak 2015 rt gala dinner sit russian president vladimir putin substantiate failure would violate regulations root constitution bar current retire military officer accept emoluments foreign power letter say white house spokesman sean spic tell reporters thursday inspector general probe appropriate think wrongdoing department inspector general look say spic say flynn undergo security review name trump first national security adviser would rerun background check someone head defense intelligence agency maintain high-level security clearance say however former senior white house official familiar ethics security clearance issue say administration former president barack obama white house counsel office always conduct background investigations candidates senior white house job even already hold security clearances review include questionnaires interview would include issue whether candidate drug problems hire prostitute personal financial problems former official say flynn also subject congressional probe russian interference 2016 presidential election u.s. intelligence agencies say intend sway vote favor trump republican candidate democratic rival hillary clinton russia deny allegation defense department inspector general investigate whether flynn fail obtain require approval prior receive emolument foreign government accord april 11 letter release democrats house oversight government reform committee substantiate failure would violate military regulations apply constitutional provision bar current retire officer accept emoluments foreign power letter say representative elijah cummings house committee top democrat release defense department document thursday show dia find evidence flynn request permission accept foreign fund despite 2014 warn take payments one document redact version letter dia send committee april say agency find record refer relate ltg lieutenant general flynn receipt money foreign source flynn attorney robert kelner say statement cummings mischaracterized dia letter say partially redact section confirm flynn give pentagon information document thumb drive rt event materials include document flynn use speakers bureau event say kelner add former national security adviser also brief pentagon moscow visit call dia release unredacted letter detail brief kelner statement however address issue whether flynn request receive permission accept foreign government payments separately committee republican chairman representative jason chaffetz ask act army secretary final determination whether flynn violate law accept foreign payments accord letter release office thursday addition look rt fund house committee scrutinize flynn work last year foreign agent hire promote turkish government view netherlands-based company own turkish businessman company pay flynn now-defunct firm flynn intel group total 530,000 begin august trump campaign top foreign policy adviser flynn register foreign agent justice department march weeks resign trump national security adviser follow failure disclose contact sergei kislyak russia ambassador unite state trump take office pentagon probe trump 's ex-adviser flynn foreign payments