Trump ordered the Pentagon to launch an investigation into potential ties between Russia and the Trump campaign, after the president accused his former national security adviser Michael Flynn of making false statements about his communications with Russia during the campaign.

The investigation will be led by a former deputy attorney general who is a longtime associate of the president’s, according to The Washington Post.

The probe will focus on Flynn’s contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States and on Russian intelligence, according a statement from the office of Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinOvernight Energy: Trump administration seeks more aggressive emissions standards for coal, oil and gas | Judge halts Alaska methane drilling | Court upholds EPA rule on greenhouse gas emissions from coal power plants | Judge rules out EPA’s methane rule | EPA approves plan to ease methane rules | EPA suspends methane rule in Montana EPA suspensions methane rule, permits EPA to issue methane rule to the states | EPA seeks review of Hawaii methane rule The Hill’s Morning Report — Kavanaugh, Kavanaugh to testify next week MORE (D-W.

Va.) and Sen. Angus King Angus Stanley KingA Senator Gary Johnson could be good not just for Libertarians, but for the Senate too Restoring our national parks could be the next great American tradition MORE (I-Maine) are calling for.

They’re asking Trump to appoint a special counsel to lead the investigation.

They also want the Justice Department to investigate Trump’s business ties with Russia, including whether he broke the law.

“As a nation, we cannot let this administration hide behind false narratives that it is a peaceful transition to democracy,” the senators wrote.

“As the nation’s chief executive, you cannot lie to us about our security.

We must know what you are doing and when you are using it to hide the truth.”

Flynn was forced to resign last month amid controversy over his communications to Russia’s ambassador to Washington.

A former deputy national security advisor who is now a longtime ally of the Trump White House has also come under scrutiny for a series of contacts he had with the Kremlin during the 2016 campaign.