In a surprising turn of events, the selection of Mike Flynn, the former national security adviser pardoned by Donald Trump, as an inductee into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame sparked a wave of resignations from disgruntled board members, shaking the foundations of this prestigious institution.
The Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, a revered institution known for honoring distinguished individuals, has recently been embroiled in controversy. The decision to induct Mike Flynn, a former national security adviser pardoned by Donald Trump, has led to an unexpected exodus of board members.
Flynn, who had pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents about his contacts with Russian officials, was pardoned by Trump near the end of his presidency. His selection as an inductee into the Hall of Fame was met with strong opposition from several board members, leading to their resignation.
Former congressman Jim Langevin, who was also selected last week as an honorary inductee, expressed his disapproval of Flynn’s induction. “The inclusion of Lieutenant General Michael Flynn flies in the face of honorable service,” Langevin said. He added that he could not see placing Flynn on the same footing with the many esteemed individuals who have been honored by the Hall of Fame over the years.
In a letter co-signed to board president Lawrence Reid, former state senator Bea Lanzi and attorney John Tarantino echoed Langevin’s sentiments. They called Flynn’s selection “disappointing and astounding.” They pointed out that the board had been advised in detail last month why Flynn, a retired U.S. Army general-turned-right-wing conspiracy theorist, was “not worthy of induction.”
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Despite their resignation, Lanzi and Tarantino stated they would continue their donations to the hall. However, they specified that they did not want their funds to be used for any fallout due to Flynn’s induction, including legal fees, crisis management, public relations fallout, or other negative reactions the organization may face.
“There is an overall right and wrong in the universe, and what has happened here, in our view, and according to our moral compasses, and consciences, compels us to resign,” read the letter co-signed by Lanzi and Tarantino.
In contrast, lawyer-historian Patrick Conley, who led the Hall of Fame for two decades, offered a strong defense of Flynn. He argued that Flynn’s induction would vindicate him in his home state, referring to Flynn as another innocent victim of the ‘Russia hoax.’ Conley dismissed the allegations against Flynn as a result of illegal surveillance by the outgoing Obama administration and biased media.
“The induction will vindicate Flynn in his home state in the manner contained in his executive grant of clemency from President Trump – another innocent victim of the ‘Russia hoax,’” Conley wrote in a recent letter.
The repercussions of Flynn’s induction into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame are yet to be fully realized. However, the mass resignations and the ensuing controversy have undoubtedly cast a shadow over this esteemed institution. As the dust settles, the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame faces a challenging path ahead, navigating the fallout of this controversial decision.
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