<p>SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — The University of Rhode Island is weighing whether to revoke an honorary degree bestowed years ago to Michael Flynn, a university alumnus who briefly served as President Donald Trump’s national security adviser.</p>
<p>The Providence Journal <a href="https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2021/06/01/michael-flynn-back-news-uri-repeal-honorary-degree/7489633002/?csp=chromepush">reports</a> the school’s honorary degree committee met on Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 at the request of URI President David Dooley. The panel sent its recommendation to Dooley on Feb. 12 but hasn’t made it public. </p>
<p>University spokesperson Linda Acciardo told the Journal on Tuesday that the outgoing president hasn’t made a decision on the degree, which was bestowed in 2014. </p>
<p>She added that Dooley’s recommendation would be sent to the school’s board of trustees, which would then hold a public hearing. </p>
<p>The university expressed disappointment in Flynn, a 1981 graduate, after he <a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-donald-trump-ap-top-news-criminal-investigations-politics-fb2c8cd3e70542648d31756729611d3e">pleaded guilty </a> to lying to the FBI in 2017.</p>
<p>At the time, URI said the Rhode Island native and a retired Army lieutenant general’s actions did not reflect the university’s values or its “expectations of people in public service" but that it wasn’t considering rescinding the degree.</p>
<p>Flynn was eventually <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-pardon-michael-flynn-russia-aeef585b08ba6f2c763c8c37bfd678ed">pardoned</a> by Trump last year. He served as Trump’s national security adviser in the early weeks of 2017 before <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-international-news-politics-russia-0795b34ac17f4681934e31c07b442696">resigning</a> following reports he misled Trump officials about his contacts with Russia. </p>
<p>Flynn made headlines over the weekend after he seemed to suggest a military coup similar to the one in Myanmar “ <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2021/05/31/trump-ally-michael-flynn-says-what-happened-in-coup-stricken-myanmar-should-happen-in-us-at-dallas-conference/">should happen</a> ” in the U.S. He’s since said he doesn’t support a coup in the U.S.</p>
