Mike Flynn's induction sparks mass resignation from Rhode Island hall of fame

Mike Flynn was selected as an inductee into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, sending dozens of board members fleeing for the exits.

The hall's board held a virtual meeting where some members voted to induct the former national security adviser, who was pardoned by Donald Trump near the end of his presidency after pleading guilty to lying to FBI agents about his contacts with Russian officials.

As a result, multiple members of the organization submitted letters of resignation, reported the Providence Journal.

"The inclusion of Lieutenant General Michael Flynn flies in the face of honorable service," said former congressman Jim Langevin, who was also selected last week as an honorary inductee. "I just couldn't see placing that particular nominee on the same footing with so many fabulous people that have been honored in that way over the many years that it's been in existence."

Former state senator Bea Lanzi and attorney John Tarantino co-signed a letter to board president Lawrence Reid calling Flynn's selection "disappointing and astounding," saying the board had been advised in specific detail last month why the retired U.S. Army general-turned-right-wing conspiracy theorist was "not worthy of induction."

"There is an overall right and wrong in the universe, and what has happened here, in our view, and according to our moral compasses, and consciences, compels us to resign," read the letter co-signed by Lanzi and Tarantino.

The pair said they would not stop or withdraw their donations to the hall, but specified they did not want the board to use any of those funds "to deal with any legal fees, crisis management, public relations fallout, or other negative reactions the organization may face because of Lt. Gen. Flynn's nomination and induction."

Lawyer-historian Patrick Conley, who led the hall of fame for two decades, offered a vociferous defense of the nominee.

"[The induction will] vindicate Flynn in his home state in the manner contained in his executive grant of clemency from President Trump – another innocent victim of the 'Russia hoax,'" Conley wrote in a recent letter. "Flynn did not commit high treason, espionage, sedition, or any high crime... Flynn was illegally surveilled by the outgoing Obama administration ... set-up without benefit of counsel by two agents from a weaponized FBI .... [then] tried and convicted by a biased media."