It’s hard to imagine somebody as intelligent as Michael Flynn could be so stupid at times. I suppose when one devotes the bulk of their life to military service, there exists the desire to earn more money once retired. After all, top generals max out at less than $200,000 in base pay. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with somebody utilizing their experience and life’s work to earn a good paycheck.

But it appears Flynn went about it recklessly, including ignoring warnings by the DIA not to take foreign payments. From CNN:

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn was warned by the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014 against accepting foreign payments as he entered retirement, according to new documents obtained by the House oversight committee.

The inspector general of the Department of Defense also opened an investigation of Flynn earlier this month, according to an April 11 letter released by the oversight committee Thursday.

“These documents raise grave questions about why General Flynn concealed the payments he received from foreign sources after he was warned explicitly by the Pentagon,” said Rep. Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, in a statement. “Our next step is to get the documents we are seeking from the White House so we can complete our investigation. I thank the Department of Defense for providing us with unclassified versions of these documents.”

I know the world is aflutter with talk that Flynn “broke the law.” There is no evidence (yet) of Flynn breaking the law but it still goes to his judgment. What in the world was he thinking? Flynn’s position was such he could earn $25,000 a speech (easily) on the lecture circuit. Why get into bed with foreign nationals, especially considering your position while in the military and as head of the DIA?

Even if his hands are clean, it makes him look dirty.