The apparent rejection of Townley's clearance comes amid reports that Flynn discussed Russian sanctions with the country's U.S. ambassador ahead of Trump's inauguration. The conversations, which are being probed by the FBI, could have been unlawful, as they were held right around the same time that the Obama administration imposed sanctions against the Kremlin for meddling in the 2016 election. Flynn reportedly told the ambassador that the new administration would see to it that the sanctions were rolled back once Trump took office.