A top aide to national security adviser Michael Flynn was denied security clearance to serve on the National Security Council (NSC), Politico reported late Friday.

Robin Townley, the senior Africa director on the NSC, learned on Friday that the CIA had denied his “Sensitive Compartmented Information” security clearance.

CIA director Mike Pompeo approved of the rejection, the report said.

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“They believe this is a hit job from inside the CIA on Flynn and the people close to him,” an unnamed source told Politico. “Townley believes that the CIA doesn’t run the world.”

The Washington Post reported Friday that Flynn discussed sanctions against Russia with the country’s ambassador to the U.S. in December. Flynn earlier this week had denied discussing sanctions with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE on Friday said he did not know of Flynn’s talk with Kislyak, but said he would look into the matter.

"I don't know about that. I haven't seen it. What report is that? I haven't seen that. I'll look into that,” the president told reporters.