National security adviser Michael Flynn resigned because he became a “lightning rod” when he lied about his contact with a Russian ambassador, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Tuesday

“In the end, it was misleading the vice president that made the situation unsustainable,” Conway said on NBC’s “Today.”

“He knew he had become a lightning rod and he made that decision,” Conway added.

In his resignation letter, Flynn said he gave Vice President Pence “incomplete information” about his calls with Russian ambassador Sergey Kilysak during which he discussed sanctions against Moscow.

Pence went on CBS last month and vouched for the embattled national security adviser, saying Flynn assured him that he didn’t discuss sanctions with Kilysak.

Flynn’s sudden departure Monday evening came after the Washington Post reported then-acting Attorney General Sally Yates warned the White House has misled Pence and could be vulnerable for blackmail for his dishonesty.

On Monday, Conway and White House spokesman Sean Spicer seemed to have their wires crossed when it came to Flynn.

Conway told MSNBC that Flynn had the “full confidence” of Trump shortly before Spicer told reporters that the president was “evaluating the situation.”

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