Axios

Former national security advisor Michael Flynn misled Pentagon investigators over his involvement with Russia during his application process for a security clearance last year, per a letter from House Oversight ranking member Elijah Cummings to the committee's chairman, Jason Chaffetz.

The big thing: Flynn stated he had not received "any benefit from a foreign country," claiming that his $45,000 speaking fee at a 2015 Moscow gala for RT, the state-owned Russian news network, was paid by his U.S. speakers' bureau — however, Cummings' letter states that the Oversight Committee has documents showing Flynn's speaking fees were paid directly by RT.

The other big thing: Flynn claimed he had "insubstantial contact" with foreign officials in his clearance disclosures. He sat next to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the gala.

The backdrop: Flynn's attorneys sent a letter to the Senate Intelligence Committee today saying he would exercise his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination rather than turn over documents the committee is seeking in its Russia probe.

New Jersey Governor and former Trump transition head Chris Christie told reporters at a press conference in Trenton today that he "made it very clear" to President Trump during the transition that he should not hire Michael Flynn in any capacity, per CNN.

The money quote: "If I were president-elect of the United States, I wouldn't let General Flynn into the White House, let alone give him a job."

Trump won't like this: There has been periodic speculation about Christie joining the administration, but this statement won't do him any favors. As Axios' Jonathan Swan has previously reported, White House staffers would love nothing more than to make Flynn disappear, but Trump still thinks highly of him and has not authorized his staff to criticize the ousted national security advisor.

President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a photo opportunity this morning, where he held the press pool back to refute last week's reports that he disclosed sensitive Israeli intelligence on ISIS to Russian officials in the Oval Office.

I never mentioned the word or the name Israel during that conversation. They're all saying I did, so you have another story wrong. Never mentioned the word Israel.

Okay, but... the initial reporting from May 15 on Trump's conversation with the Russians never claimed that he mentioned Israel at all, only that he disclosed information given to the United States by a key ally — which was reported to be Israel the next day — that was not intended to be shared. And of course, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said last week that Trump "wasn't even aware of where that information came from."