Russia probe involves alleged scheme to remove cleric tied to New Jersey charter schools

Federal investigators are probing an alleged plan involving former White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to remove a controversial Islamic cleric from the United States and bring him to Turkey for millions of dollars, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper reported Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating the alleged proposal in which Flynn and his son were to be paid as much as $15 million for delivering Fethullah Gulen to the Turkish government.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pushed the U.S. to extradite the cleric who he accuses of masterminding a failed coup in his homeland.

According to the report, FBI agents have made inquiry to at least four people about a December meeting in New York City between Flynn and representatives of the Turkish government where removing Gulen from the U.S. on a private jet was discussed. It said the investigation is part of Mueller’s probe of Trump campaign advisers and Russian election interference.

Read more: http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/watchdog/2017/11/10/report-russia-probe-involves-alleged-scheme-remove-cleric-tied-nj-charter-schools/852091001/