Incoming White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer defended the fact that Donald Trump did not appoint any Hispanics to his Cabinet, the first time that has happened in 30 years.

At a news conference Thursday, Spicer said President-elect Trump is bringing "the best and the brightest together," and listed the other minority members of his cabinet, including Housing and Urban Development pick, Dr. Ben Carson, who is African American and his choice for Transportation Secretary, Elaine Chao, who is Asian American.

He also urged people to "stay tuned," saying there are five thousand jobs still to be filled.

Spicer also defended Trump's repeated visits this week to his luxury Washington, DC hotel, saying it 's not "a shocker" that Trump wants to spend time there.

Washington, DC - 19 January 2017

1. Sean Spicer walking into news conference

(++FRAME OF BLACK BETWEEN SHOTS++)

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Incoming White House Press Secretary:

"I think when you look at the totality of his administration, the people that he's talked to, the people that he's met with, the people that he's appointing, you see a president who is committed to uniting this country, who is bringing the best and the brightest together. But look at the Cabinet: Elaine Chao, Dr. Ben Carson, Gov. Nikki Haley, the first Indian-American. The number one thing that I think Americans should focus on is he hiring the best and the brightest? Is he hiring people who are committed to enacting real change, respecting taxpayers, bringing about an agenda that will create jobs, lift up wages. And I think that what you're seeing and what you are going to continue to see, not just in the Cabinet but through the entire thing is a diversity in gender and a diversity in thinking and a diversity of ideology. So it's not just about you know, skin color or ethnic heritage, but you look at the totality of this Cabinet, an Indian American, African American, you know, Asian American, it's about a lot of things. And I think you can pick out one group and say where is the percentage of that. But if you look at the totality of the people he's meeting with, the people he's bringing in for senior staff positions, Cabinet, sub Cabinet, deputies

(++FRAME OF BLACK BETWEEN BITES++)

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Incoming White House Press Secretary:

"He continues to put together an amazingly diverse cabinet. So, if you're looking specifically for Hispanics, I think as we move forward, we've got five thousand jobs to fill. There is going to be a tremendous number of Hispanic Americans to fill those posts and I just caution people to stay tuned. lots of great things are coming."

(++FRAME OF BLACK BETWEEN BITES++)

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Incoming White House Press Secretary:

"That he's going to his own hotel? I mean, I think that's pretty smart. Again, I think the idea that he's going to his own hotel shouldn't be a shocker. It's a beautiful place, it's somewhere that he's very proud of and I think it's symbolic of the kind of government that he's going to run: on time, under budget, excuse me, ahead of time, under budget. Same kind of theme that the vice president-elect expressed earlier about this transition: 20 percent under budget, 1.2 million dollars returned to the Treasury. He's very proud. It's an absolutely stunning hotel. I encourage you to go there if you haven't been by. But I don't think the idea that President-elect Trump is having a reception at the Trump hotel should be a shocker to anybody."

Incoming White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer defended the fact that Donald Trump did not appoint any Hispanics to his Cabinet, the first time that has happened in 30 years.

At a news conference Thursday, Spicer said President-elect Trump is bringing "the best and the brightest together," and listed the other minority members of his cabinet, including Housing and Urban Development pick, Dr. Ben Carson, who is African American and his choice for Transportation Secretary, Elaine Chao, who is Asian American.

He also urged people to "stay tuned," saying there are five thousand jobs still to be filled.

Spicer also defended Trump's repeated visits this week to his luxury Washington, DC hotel, saying it 's not "a shocker" that Trump wants to spend time there.

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 19 January 2017

1. Sean Spicer walking into news conference

(++FRAME OF BLACK BETWEEN SHOTS++)

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Incoming White House Press Secretary:

"I think when you look at the totality of his administration, the people that he's talked to, the people that he's met with, the people that he's appointing, you see a president who is committed to uniting this country, who is bringing the best and the brightest together. But look at the Cabinet: Elaine Chao, Dr. Ben Carson, Gov. Nikki Haley, the first Indian-American. The number one thing that I think Americans should focus on is he hiring the best and the brightest? Is he hiring people who are committed to enacting real change, respecting taxpayers, bringing about an agenda that will create jobs, lift up wages. And I think that what you're seeing and what you are going to continue to see, not just in the Cabinet but through the entire thing is a diversity in gender and a diversity in thinking and a diversity of ideology. So it's not just about you know, skin color or ethnic heritage, but you look at the totality of this Cabinet, an Indian American, African American, you know, Asian American, it's about a lot of things. And I think you can pick out one group and say where is the percentage of that. But if you look at the totality of the people he's meeting with, the people he's bringing in for senior staff positions, Cabinet, sub Cabinet, deputies

(++FRAME OF BLACK BETWEEN BITES++)

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Incoming White House Press Secretary:

"He continues to put together an amazingly diverse cabinet. So, if you're looking specifically for Hispanics, I think as we move forward, we've got five thousand jobs to fill. There is going to be a tremendous number of Hispanic Americans to fill those posts and I just caution people to stay tuned. lots of great things are coming."

(++FRAME OF BLACK BETWEEN BITES++)

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Incoming White House Press Secretary:

"That he's going to his own hotel? I mean, I think that's pretty smart. Again, I think the idea that he's going to his own hotel shouldn't be a shocker. It's a beautiful place, it's somewhere that he's very proud of and I think it's symbolic of the kind of government that he's going to run: on time, under budget, excuse me, ahead of time, under budget. Same kind of theme that the vice president-elect expressed earlier about this transition: 20 percent under budget, 1.2 million dollars returned to the Treasury. He's very proud. It's an absolutely stunning hotel. I encourage you to go there if you haven't been by. But I don't think the idea that President-elect Trump is having a reception at the Trump hotel should be a shocker to anybody."

Incoming White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer defended the fact that Donald Trump did not nominate any Hispanics to his Cabinet, the first time that has happened in 30 years.

At a news conference Thursday, Spicer said President-elect Trump is bringing "the best and the brightest together," and listed the other minority members of his cabinet, including Housing and Urban Development pick, Dr. Ben Carson, who is African American and his choice for Transportation Secretary, Elaine Chao, who is Asian American.

He also urged people to "stay tuned," saying there are five thousand jobs still to be filled.

Spicer also defended Trump's repeated visits this week to his luxury Washington, DC hotel, saying it 's not "a shocker" that Trump wants to spend time there.

Washington, DC - 19 January 2017

1. Sean Spicer walking into news conference

(++FRAME OF BLACK BETWEEN SHOTS++)

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Incoming White House Press Secretary:

"I think when you look at the totality of his administration, the people that he's talked to, the people that he's met with, the people that he's appointing, you see a president who is committed to uniting this country, who is bringing the best and the brightest together. But look at the Cabinet: Elaine Chao, Dr. Ben Carson, Gov. Nikki Haley, the first Indian-American. The number one thing that I think Americans should focus on is he hiring the best and the brightest? Is he hiring people who are committed to enacting real change, respecting tax payers, bringing about an agenda that will create jobs, lift up wages. And I think that what you're seeing and what you are going to continue to see, not just in the Cabinet but through the entire thing is a diversity in gender and a diversity in thinking and a diversity of ideology. So it's not just about you know, skin color or ethnic heritage, but you look at the totality of this Cabinet, an Indian American, African American, you know, Asian American, it's about a lot of things. And I think you can pick out one group and say where is the percentage of that. But if you look at the totality of the people he's meeting with, the people he's bringing in for senior staff positions, Cabinet, sub Cabinet, deputies.

(++FRAME OF BLACK BETWEEN BITES++)

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Incoming White House Press Secretary:

"He continues to put together an amazingly diverse cabinet. So, if you're looking specifically for Hispanics, I think as we move forward, we've got five thousand jobs to fill. There is going to be a tremendous number of Hispanic Americans to fill those posts and I just caution people to stay tuned, lots of great things are coming."

(++FRAME OF BLACK BETWEEN BITES++)

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Incoming White House Press Secretary:

"That he's going to his own hotel? I mean, I think that's pretty smart. Again, I think the idea that he's going to his own hotel shouldn't be a shocker. It's a beautiful place, it's somewhere that he's very proud of and I think it's symbolic of the kind of government that he's going to run: on time, under budget, excuse me, ahead of time, under budget. Same kind of theme that the vice president-elect expressed earlier about this transition: 20 percent under budget, 1.2 million dollars returned to the Treasury. He's very proud. It's an absolutely stunning hotel. I encourage you to go there if you haven't been by. But I don't think the idea that President-elect Trump is having a reception at the Trump hotel should be a shocker to anybody."

A White House spokesman says top adviser Kellyanne Conway has been "counseled" after she urged people to buy Ivanka Trump products during an interview on Fox News.

Sean Spicer says: "She's been counseled, and that's all we're going to say."

Conway spoke on Fox News Thursday morning from the White House briefing room. She encouraged people to "go buy Ivanka's stuff." She made the comments a day after Trump attacked Nordstrom on Twitter for dropping his daughter's fashion line.

While Trump himself is not subject to the standards of ethical conduct for federal employees, Conway is. Among the rules: An employee shall not use his or her office "for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise."

Spicer was also asked about a Reuters report that President Trump in his recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the START treaty, calling it a "bad deal."

Spicer refused to comment on the question, saying the "president's conversation with President Putin is a private call between the two of them and I'm going to leave it at that."

On Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, the White House spokesman said President Trump has "no regrets" about the pick, despite reports that Gorsuch told Senators he was "disheartened" by Trump's denigration of federal judges.

Washington - 9 February 2017

1. Sean Spicer walking into briefing room

2. Cutaway of Spicer at podium

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"Kellyanne has been counseled and that's all we're going to go with. She's been counseled on that subject, and that's it."

4. Cutaway of FOX reporter asking about START treaty

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"The president's conversation with President Putin is a private call between the two of them and I'm going to leave it at that. We put a readout on the call and we have nothing further beyond that."

6. Cutaway of press

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"I think the president's comments speak for themselves - no he has no regrets. But he's very proud of the selection he's made and he's gonna make a great associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

(reporter, off camera: Not about the selection, about the comments he said, for example, about ...)

I understand that and he has no regrets"

8. Wide shot of press

A White House spokesman says top adviser Kellyanne Conway has been "counselled" after she urged people to buy Ivanka Trump products during an interview on Fox News.

Press Secretary Sean Spicer says: "She's been counselled, and that's all we're going to say."

Conway spoke on Fox News Thursday morning from the White House briefing room. She encouraged people to "go buy Ivanka's stuff."

She made the comments a day after Trump attacked Nordstrom on Twitter for dropping his daughter's fashion line.

While Trump himself is not subject to the standards of ethical conduct for federal employees, Conway is. Among the rules: An employee shall not use his or her office "for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise."

Spicer was also asked about a report that President Trump in his recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the START treaty, calling it a "bad deal."

Spicer refused to comment on the question, saying the "president's conversation with President Putin is a private call between the two of them and I'm going to leave it at that."

On Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, the White House spokesman said President Trump has "no regrets" about the pick, despite reports that Gorsuch told Senators he was "disheartened" by Trump's denigration of federal judges.

Washington - 9 February 2017

1. Sean Spicer walking into briefing room

2. Cutaway of Spicer at podium

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"Kellyanne has been counselled and that's all we're going to go with. She's been counselled on that subject, and that's it."

4. Cutaway of FOX reporter asking about START treaty

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"The president's conversation with President Putin is a private call between the two of them and I'm going to leave it at that. We put a readout on the call and we have nothing further beyond that."

6. Cutaway of press

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"I think the president's comments speak for themselves - no he has no regrets. But he's very proud of the selection he's made and he's gonna make a great associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

(reporter, off camera: Not about the selection, about the comments he said, for example, about ...)

I understand that and he has no regrets."

8. Wide shot of press

RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY

ASSOCIATED PRESS – AP CLIENTS ONLY

Seattle – May 15, 2017

1.Wide shot of federal district court building

2. Medium view of Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Doug Chin, Attorney General, Hawaii

"Our concern is not pushing back against the politics of what's being determined. What we're saying is it's not so much President Trump is being politically correct or refusing to be politically correct. It's that he's not being correct when it comes to the Constitution. So, when it comes to the Constitution of the United States, then it's just very important for us to follow and uphold those standards."

4. Close view of police

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Doug Chin, Attorney General, Hawaii

"We cannot be going back to a time when people are allowing executive orders that discriminate or exclude people solely based on the country they come from or solely because of their religion."

5. Medium view of U.S.flag.

STORYLINE:

Federal judges on Monday peppered a lawyer for President Donald Trump with questions about whether the administration's travel ban discriminates against Muslims and zeroed in on the president's campaign statements, the second time in a week the rhetoric has faced judicial scrutiny.

Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall, defending the travel ban, told the three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the executive order should be reinstated because it falls well within the president's authority.

Neal Katyal, who represented Hawaii, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, expressed disbelief at that argument and said Trump had repeatedly spoken of a Muslim ban during the presidential campaign and after.

The 9th Circuit panel was hearing arguments over Hawaii's lawsuit challenging the travel ban, which would suspend the nation's refugee program and temporarily bar new visas for citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The judges will decide whether to uphold a Hawaii judge's decision in March that blocked the ban.

"What we're saying is it's not so much President Trump is being politically correct or refusing to be politically correct. It's that he's not being correct when it comes to the Constitution. So, when it comes to the Constitution of the United States, then it's just very important for us to follow and uphold those standards," Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin said outside the courthouse in Seattle.

Last week, judges on the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments over whether to affirm a Maryland judge's decision putting the ban on ice. They also questioned whether they could consider Trump's campaign statements, with one judge asking if there was anything other than "willful blindness" that would prevent them from doing so.

Monday's arguments marked the second time Trump's efforts to restrict immigration from certain Muslim-majority nations have reached the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit.

After Trump issued his initial travel ban on a Friday in late January, bringing chaos and protests to airports around the country, a Seattle judge blocked its enforcement nationwide - a decision that was unanimously upheld by a three-judge 9th Circuit panel.

The president then rewrote his executive order, rather than appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, and in March, U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson in Honolulu blocked the new version from taking effect, citing what he called "significant and unrebutted evidence of religious animus" in Trump's campaign statements.

"Again, in this court, the President claims a nearly limitless power to make immigration policy that is all but immune from judicial review," Hawaii Attorney General Chin wrote to the 9th Circuit. "Again, he must be checked."

At his daily briefing, White House press secretary Sean Spicer expressed confidence that the executive order will be upheld by the appeals court.

"The executive order is fully lawful and will be upheld. We fully believe that," Spicer said.

The travel ban cases are expected to reach the Supreme Court, but that would likely be cemented if the 4th and 9th Circuits reach differing conclusions about its legality. Because of how the courts chose to proceed, a full slate of 13 judges heard the 4th Circuit arguments last week, while just three, all appointees of President Bill Clinton, will consider the case in Seattle.

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Lawyers for retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn told President Donald Trump's transition team before the inauguration that Flynn might need to register with the government as a foreign agent, but Trump was not aware of the possible move, the White House said Friday.

The disclosure by White House officials confirms the Trump transition team was aware of the situation involving the president's pick for a top national security post either before he joined the government or soon afterward.

But the White House's acknowledgement raised new questions about whether Trump's transition team, and later, his White House lawyers, fully vetted Flynn after being informed about his possible filing as a foreign agent for his lobbying during the presidential campaign that may have benefited the government of Turkey.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer dismissed questions about whether the information should have given the transition team pause, saying Flynn had "impeccable credentials."

Trump fired Flynn last month after less than a month on the job saying he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other administration officials about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the U.S.

Spicer confirmed that Flynn's personal lawyer contacted Trump transition attorneys before the inauguration about the possible filing. But he added that Flynn's representative only asked for guidance and did not provide more details about the lobbying work or Flynn's business dealings.

Spicer said Flynn's decision whether to file as a foreign agent was a personal matter that his own attorney would need to handle.

Among those told of Flynn's lobbying work was Don McGahn, Trump's campaign lawyer who served in the transition and later became White House counsel, said a person with direct knowledge of the conversations between Flynn's representatives and the transition team.

That person, who was not authorized to describe confidential conversations and spoke on condition of anonymity, said that during discussions after the inauguration White House lawyers were told Flynn was moving ahead with plans to file as a foreign agent.

On Thursday, Spicer had said he did not believe Trump had been told of Flynn's work as a foreign agent. Later that day, Vice President Mike Pence said he was unaware of Flynn's foreign agent work until this week.

Flynn and his firm, Flynn Intel Group Inc., filed paperwork this week with the Justice Department formally identifying him as a foreign agent and acknowledging that his work for a company owned by a Turkish businessman "could be construed to have principally benefited the Republic of Turkey."

In the filings with the Justice Department's Foreign Agent Registration Unit, Flynn and his company described $530,000 worth of lobbying before Election Day on behalf of Inovo BV, a Dutch-based company owned by Turkish businessman Ekim Alptekin. The lobbying occurred from August through November while Flynn was a top Trump campaign adviser.

In an interview with the AP, Alptekin said Flynn and his firm filed the registration after pressure from Justice Department officials. Alptekin said he disagreed with the decision to register. He also said he had asked for some of his money back.

Flynn's registration comes as he has drawn scrutiny from the FBI for his contacts with Russian officials. Through a spokesman, Flynn declined to discuss the registration. In the filing, his attorney said the lobbying contract quickly ended after Trump's election in November.

On Thursday, Spicer defended Flynn's work, saying he did it as a "private citizen," but he declined to say whether Trump would have hired Flynn if he had known about the lobbying.

"There's nothing nefarious about doing anything that's legal as long as the proper paperwork is filed," Spicer said.

After Flynn joined the administration, he agreed not to lobby for five years after leaving government service and never to represent foreign governments. It appears that Flynn's work wouldn't violate the pledge because it occurred before he joined the administration in January. The pledge bars Flynn from ever doing the same type of work again in his lifetime.

Under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, U.S. citizens who lobby on behalf of foreign governments or political entities must disclose their work to the Justice Department. Willfully failing to register is a felony, though the department rarely files criminal charges in such cases. It routinely works with lobbying firms to get back in compliance with the law by registering and disclosing their work.

According to Flynn's filings, his firm's work involved research, informational materials and a video on the cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania, of orchestrating a botched coup last summer. Erdogan has called for Gulen's extradition, a request the Obama administration rebuffed.

Alptekin, the Turkish businessman, has denied having any ties to Erdogan's government. But he is a member of a Turkish economic relations board run by an Erdogan appointee.

Washington, DC - 10 March 2017

+++WHITE FLASHES BETWEEN SOUNDBITES+++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary

"What the AP is reporting, just to be clear, is that a personal lawyer of General Flynn's contacted a transition lawyer and asked for guidance about what he should or should not do. The lawyer was instructed that it wasn't the role of the transition, and it was up to the personal lawyer to work with the appropriate authorities or subject matter experts to determine what was appropriate and what was not appropriate in terms of filing."

+++WHITE FLASH+++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary

(Reporter) "The person who is in line to be the national security adviser may need to register as a foreign agent, and that doesn't raise a red flag? (Spicer) It's not a question of raising a red flag, John, it's a question of whether they gave them the advice that they are supposed to. It is not up to them to make decisions about what you need to do or not do."

+++WHITE FLASH+++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary

(Reporter) "We're talking about the judgment of the president, the vice president and your team made to select this man as national security adviser when you had information that he had these dealings with Turkey. (Spicer) What dealings are you referring to, that he had a client. He was also the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Unbelievably qualified, 40 years in the military with impeccable credentials, so what is it. What is it you are getting at? Because so far, he has impeccable credentials, he had a stellar career in the military, widely respected, and I think for you to start to impugn his int...(Reporter) But Vice President Pence said yesterday....(Spicer) But again, there was no disclosure at the time."

+++WHITE FLASH+++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary

"We trust people to fill out the forms that they are required to in an honest and legal manner. And in this case, he retroactively filed the forms he was supposed to do, but we advised him to do what the legal and proper thing was and that's the right thing for this administration, so we did the right thing then and we expect every employee to follow the law."

+++WHITE FLASH+++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary

"I believe that everybody has done what is legally required of them, but I can't tell you that every single person has done everything. I can tell you the president has made clear to everyone in this administration you are expected to live up to the high standards he has set for them, and that if you don't you will be dismissed."

Lawyers for retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn told President Donald Trump's transition team before the inauguration that Flynn might need to register with the government as a foreign agent, but Trump was not aware of the possible move, the White House said Friday.

The disclosure by White House officials confirms the Trump transition team was aware of the situation involving the president's pick for a top national security post either before he joined the government or soon afterward.

But the White House's acknowledgement raised new questions about whether Trump's transition team, and later, his White House lawyers, fully vetted Flynn after being informed about his possible filing as a foreign agent for his lobbying during the presidential campaign that may have benefited the government of Turkey.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer dismissed questions about whether the information should have given the transition team pause, saying Flynn had "impeccable credentials."

Trump fired Flynn last month after less than a month on the job saying he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other administration officials about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the U.S.

Spicer confirmed that Flynn's personal lawyer contacted Trump transition attorneys before the inauguration about the possible filing. But he added that Flynn's representative only asked for guidance and did not provide more details about the lobbying work or Flynn's business dealings.

Spicer said Flynn's decision whether to file as a foreign agent was a personal matter that his own attorney would need to handle.

Among those told of Flynn's lobbying work was Don McGahn, Trump's campaign lawyer who served in the transition and later became White House counsel, said a person with direct knowledge of the conversations between Flynn's representatives and the transition team.

That person, who was not authorized to describe confidential conversations and spoke on condition of anonymity, said that during discussions after the inauguration White House lawyers were told Flynn was moving ahead with plans to file as a foreign agent.

On Thursday, Spicer had said he did not believe Trump had been told of Flynn's work as a foreign agent. Later that day, Vice President Mike Pence said he was unaware of Flynn's foreign agent work until this week.

Flynn and his firm, Flynn Intel Group Inc., filed paperwork this week with the Justice Department formally identifying him as a foreign agent and acknowledging that his work for a company owned by a Turkish businessman "could be construed to have principally benefited the Republic of Turkey."

In the filings with the Justice Department's Foreign Agent Registration Unit, Flynn and his company described $530,000 worth of lobbying before Election Day on behalf of Inovo BV, a Dutch-based company owned by Turkish businessman Ekim Alptekin. The lobbying occurred from August through November while Flynn was a top Trump campaign adviser.

In an interview with the AP, Alptekin said Flynn and his firm filed the registration after pressure from Justice Department officials. Alptekin said he disagreed with the decision to register. He also said he had asked for some of his money back.

Flynn's registration comes as he has drawn scrutiny from the FBI for his contacts with Russian officials. Through a spokesman, Flynn declined to discuss the registration. In the filing, his attorney said the lobbying contract quickly ended after Trump's election in November.

On Thursday, Spicer defended Flynn's work, saying he did it as a "private citizen," but he declined to say whether Trump would have hired Flynn if he had known about the lobbying.

"There's nothing nefarious about doing anything that's legal as long as the proper paperwork is filed," Spicer said.

After Flynn joined the administration, he agreed not to lobby for five years after leaving government service and never to represent foreign governments. It appears that Flynn's work wouldn't violate the pledge because it occurred before he joined the administration in January. The pledge bars Flynn from ever doing the same type of work again in his lifetime.

Under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, U.S. citizens who lobby on behalf of foreign governments or political entities must disclose their work to the Justice Department. Willfully failing to register is a felony, though the department rarely files criminal charges in such cases. It routinely works with lobbying firms to get back in compliance with the law by registering and disclosing their work.

According to Flynn's filings, his firm's work involved research, informational materials and a video on the cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania, of orchestrating a botched coup last summer. Erdogan has called for Gulen's extradition, a request the Obama administration rebuffed.

Alptekin, the Turkish businessman, has denied having any ties to Erdogan's government. But he is a member of a Turkish economic relations board run by an Erdogan appointee.

Washington, DC - 10 March 2017

1. Wide of White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer

2. Mid of reporters

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary

"What the AP is reporting, just to be clear, is that a personal lawyer of General Flynn's contacted a transition lawyer and asked for guidance about what he should or should not do. The lawyer was instructed that it wasn't the role of the transition, and it was up to the personal lawyer to work with the appropriate authorities or subject matter experts to determine what was appropriate and what was not appropriate in terms of filing."

4. Cutaway of reporters

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary

"Each person that goes through the process in government seeks counsel in many cases about the assets they own and the activities they conducted as to what they have to do or not do. This is something like asking if they needed to file if they had a client whether or not they had a lobbying disclosure form. That's not up to us to determine, that's up for them and their counsel to deterimine if they engaged in activities in the past, or whatever it is or if a doctor needed to go and up their certification, that is not up for government to determine.

6. Cutaway of reporters

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary

(Reporter) "The person who is in line to be the national security adviser may need to register as a foreign agent, and that doesn't raise a red flag? (Spicer) It's not a matter of raising a red flag, John, it's a question of whether they gave them the advice that they are supposed to. It is not up to them to make decisions about what you need to do or not do."

8. Wide of Spicer at podium

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary

(Reporter) "We're talking about the judgment of the president, the vice president and your team made to select this man as national security adviser when you had information that he had these dealings with Turkey. (Spicer) What dealings are you referring to, that he had a client. He was also the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Unbelievably qualified, 40 years in the military with impeccable credentials, so what is it. What is it you are getting at? Because so far, he has impeccable credentials, he had a stellar career in the military, widely respected, and I think for you to start to impugn his int...(Reporter) But Vice President Pence said yesterday....(Spicer) But again, there was no disclosure at the time."

9. Cutaway of reporters.

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary

"We trust people to fill out the forms that they are required to in an honest and legal manner. And in this case, he retroactively filed the forms he was supposed to do, but we advised him to do what the legal and proper thing was and that's the right thing for this administration, so we did the right thing then and we expect every employee to follow the law. This president when it comes to ethics and when it comes to lobbying, he instituted a five-year ban, he has ran on a commitment to drain the swamp. He has been very committed to making sure we instituted high standards here and they were held to them. And so at the end of the day, when he found out Gen. Flynn had betrayed the trust of the vice president back in the day, he let him go."

11. Wide of Spicer at podium

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary

"I believe that everybody has done what is legally required of them, but I can't tell you that every single person has done everything. I can tell you the president has made clear to everyone in this administration you are expected to live up to the high standards he has set for them, and that if you don't you will be dismissed."

13. Cutaway of reporters.

Lawyers for retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn told President Donald Trump's transition team before the inauguration that Flynn might need to register with the government as a foreign agent, but Trump was not aware of the possible move, the White House said on Friday.

The disclosure by White House officials confirms the Trump transition team was aware of the situation involving the president's pick for a top national security post either before he joined the government or soon afterward.

But the White House's acknowledgement raised new questions about whether Trump's transition team, and later, his White House lawyers, fully vetted Flynn after being informed about his possible filing as a foreign agent for his lobbying during the presidential campaign that may have benefited the government of Turkey.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer dismissed questions about whether the information should have given the transition team, saying Flynn had "impeccable credentials".

Trump fired Flynn last month after less than a month on the job saying he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other administration officials about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the US.

Spicer confirmed that Flynn's personal lawyer contacted Trump transition attorneys before the inauguration about the possible filing. But he added that Flynn's representative only asked for guidance and did not provide more details about the lobbying work or Flynn's business dealings.

Spicer said Flynn's decision whether to file as a foreign agent was a personal matter that his own attorney would need to handle.

Flynn and his firm, Flynn Intel Group Inc., filed paperwork this week with the Justice Department formally identifying him as a foreign agent and acknowledging that his work for a company owned by a Turkish businessman "could be construed to have principally benefited the Republic of Turkey."

In the filings with the Justice Department's Foreign Agent Registration Unit, Flynn and his company described 530,000-US-dollar worth of lobbying before Election Day on behalf of Inovo BV, a Dutch-based company owned by Turkish businessman Ekim Alptekin. The lobbying occurred from August through November while Flynn was a top Trump campaign adviser.

According to Flynn's filings, his firm's work involved research, informational materials and a video on the cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania, of orchestrating a botched coup last summer. Erdogan has called for Gulen's extradition, a request the Obama administration rebuffed.

Alptekin, the Turkish businessman, has denied having any ties to Erdogan's government. But he is a member of a Turkish economic relations board run by an Erdogan appointee.

Washington, DC - 10 March 2017

1. Wide of White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer

2. Mid of reporters

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"What the AP is reporting, just to be clear, is that a personal lawyer of General Flynn's contacted a transition lawyer and asked for guidance about what he should or should not do. The lawyer was instructed that it wasn't the role of the transition, and it was up to the personal lawyer to work with the appropriate authorities or subject matter experts to determine what was appropriate and what was not appropriate in terms of filing."

4. Cutaway of reporters

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"Each person that goes through the process in government seeks counsel in many cases about the assets they own and the activities they conducted as to what they have to do or not do. This is something like asking if they needed to file if they had a client whether or not they had a lobbying disclosure form. That's not up to us to determine, that's up for them and their counsel to determine if they engaged in activities in the past, or whatever it is or if a doctor needed to go and up their certification, that is not up for government to determine."

6. Cutaway of reporters

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

(Reporter (English): "The person who is in line to be the national security adviser may need to register as a foreign agent, and that doesn't raise a red flag?")

Spicer: "It's not a matter of raising a red flag, John, it's a question of whether they gave them the advice that they are supposed to which is - it is not up to them to make decisions as to what you need to do or not to."

8. Wide of Spicer at podium

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

(Reporter: "We're talking about the judgment of the president, the vice president and your team made to select this man as national security adviser when you had information that he had these dealings with Turkey. Why did you guys..")

Spicer: "But it is a question of what dealings are you referring to - the fact that he had a client? He was also the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Unbelievably qualified, 40 years in the military with impeccable credentials, so what is it. What is it you are getting at? Because so far, he has impeccable credentials, he had a stellar career in the military, widely respected, and I think for you to start to impugn his int...

(Reporter: "But Vice President Pence said yesterday...")

Spicer: "But again, there was no disclosure at the time."

10. Cutaway of reporters.

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"We trust people to fill out the forms that they are required to do so in an honest and legal manner. And in this case, he retroactively filed the forms he was supposed to do, but we advised him to do what the legal and proper thing was and that's the right thing for this administration, so we did the right thing then and we expect every employee to follow the law. This president when it comes to ethics, when it comes to lobbying, he instituted a five-year ban, he has ran on a commitment to drain the swamp. He has been very committed to making sure that we instituted high standards here and they were held to them. And so at the end of the day, when he found out General Flynn had betrayed the trust of the vice president back in the day, he let him go."

12. Wide of Spicer at podium

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"I believe that everybody has done what is legally required of them, but I can't tell you that every single person has done everything. I can tell you the president has made clear to every person in this administration you are expected to live up to the high standards he has set for them, and that if you don't you will be dismissed."

14. Cutaway of reporters

Reacting to news that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions says he wants his testimony before the Senate intelligence committee to be open to the public, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer Monday said the president wants "this to get investigated as soon as possible and be done with it so he can continue to do the business of the American people."

The Justice Department says Sessions has requested Tuesday's committee hearing be open because he "believes it is important for the American people to hear the truth directly from him."

Sessions faces questions about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. during the presidential campaign.

Spicer dismissed a new lawsuit filed against President Donald Trump by the attorneys general of Maryland and the District of Columbia as the result of "partisan politics."

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh and District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine filed the lawsuit Monday. It alleges Trump is violating the Constitution by taking payments from foreign governments while president.

Spicer also told reporters that the White House was reviewing the decision of another federal appeals court that has upheld a decision blocking the president's revised travel ban.

The ruling Monday from a unanimous three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals deals the administration another legal defeat as the Supreme Court considers a separate case on the issue.

The judges say the president violated U.S. immigration law by discriminating against people based on their nationality and that Trump failed to show their entry into the country would hurt American interests.

Washington, D.C. - 12 June 2017

1. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer at podium

2. Side, Spicer speaking

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"The president make clear in the Rose Garden last week that he would have an announcement shortly (referring to whether tapes exist of the president's conversations with FBI Director James Comey). (Reporter: Any sort of timeline on when the announcement will be?) When the president is ready to make it."

4. UPSOUND (English) Trey Yingst, Reporter One America News Network:

"What role did Attorney General Jeff Sessions play in the firing of James Comey?"

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"I am not going to discuss private conversations between the president and the attorney general."

6. UPSOUND (English) John Roberts, Fox News reporter:

"What does the president think about the fact that Sessions will be testifying tomorrow and according to the Department of Justice wanted to testify in an open session rather than a closed, classified session?"

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"I think the president has been clear last week in the Rose Garden, that he believes the sooner we can get this addressed and dealt with, that there has been no collusion, he wants this to get investigated as soon as possible and be done with it so he can continue to do the business of the American people."

8. Cutaway of reporters

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"The president's interests, as previously discussed, do not violate the emoluments clause for reasons at length that the Department of Justice filing enumerate in their Friday night filing with respect to the CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) lawsuit, which was the first one. This lawsuit today is just another iteration of the case that was filed by that group CREW, filed by actually the same lawyers. So, it is not hard to conclude that partisan politics may be one of the motivations behind the seat (sic). The suit was filed by two Democratic attorney generals. The lawyers driving the suit are an advocacy group with partisan ties. It actually started with a press conference as opposed to filing it and the suit challenges the sort of business transaction that everyone from Penny Pritzker, who served in the last administration, and others have engaged in while in office. So, I think, we will continue to move to dismiss this case in the normal course of business."

10. Wide, reporters

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"We are currently reviewing that opinion. I think we can all attest that these are very dangerous times and we need every available tool at our disposal to prevent terrorists from entering the United States and committing acts of bloodshed and violence. We continue to be confident that the president's executive order to protect this country is fully lawful and ultimately will be upheld by the Supreme Court."

12. Mid, reporters

Reacting to news that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions says he wants his testimony before the Senate intelligence committee to be open to the public, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer Monday said the president wants "this to get investigated as soon as possible and be done with it so he can continue to do the business of the American people."

The Justice Department says Sessions has requested Tuesday's committee hearing be open because he "believes it is important for the American people to hear the truth directly from him."

Sessions faces questions about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. during the presidential campaign.

Spicer dismissed a new lawsuit filed against President Donald Trump by the attorneys general of Maryland and the District of Columbia as the result of "partisan politics."

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh and District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine filed the lawsuit Monday. It alleges Trump is violating the Constitution by taking payments from foreign governments while president.

Spicer also told reporters that the White House was reviewing the decision of another federal appeals court that has upheld a decision blocking the president's revised travel ban.

The ruling Monday from a unanimous three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals deals the administration another legal defeat as the Supreme Court considers a separate case on the issue.

The judges say the president violated U.S. immigration law by discriminating against people based on their nationality and that Trump failed to show their entry into the country would hurt American interests.

Washington, D.C. - 12 June 2017

1. Mid, Spicer at podium

2. Side, Spicer speaking

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"The president make clear in the Rose Garden last week that he would have an announcement shortly. (Reporter: Any sort of timeline on when the announcement will be?) When the president is ready to make it."

4. UPSOUND (English) Trey Yingst, Reporter One America News Network:

"What role did Attorney General Jeff Sessions play in the firing of James Comey?"

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"I am not going to discuss private conversations between the president and the attorney general."

6. UPSOUND (English) John Roberts, Fox News reporter:

"What does the president think about that Sessions will be testifying tomorrow and according to the Department of Justice wanted to testify in an open session rather than a closed, classified session?"

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"I think the president has been clear, last week in the Rose Garden that he believes the sooner we can get this addressed and dealt with, that there has been no collusion, he wants this to get investigated as soon as possible and be done with it so he can continue to do the business of the American people."

8. Cutaway

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"The president's interests, as previously discussed, do not violate the emoluments clause for reasons at length that the Department of Justice filing enumerate in their Friday night filing with respect to the CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) lawsuit, which was the first one. This lawsuit today is just another iteration of the case that was filed by that group CREW, filed by actually the same lawyers. So, it is not hard to conclude that partisan politics may be one of the motivations behind the seat (sic). The suit was filed by two Democratic attorney generals. The lawyers driving the suit are an advocacy group with partisan ties. It actually started with a news conference as opposed to filing it and the suit challenges the sort of business transaction that everyone from Penny Pritzker, who served in the last administration, and others have engaged in while in office. So, I think, we will continue to move to dismiss this case in the normal course of business."

10. Wide, reporters

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"We are currently reviewing that opinion. I think we can all attest that these are very dangerous times and we need every available tool at our disposal to prevent terrorists from entering the United States and committing acts of bloodshed and violence. We continue to be confident that the president's executive order to protect this country is fully lawful and ultimately will be upheld by the Supreme Court."

12. Mid, reporters

Reacting to news that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions says he wants his testimony before the Senate intelligence committee to be open to the public, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer Monday said the president wants "this to get investigated as soon as possible and be done with it so he can continue to do the business of the American people."

The Justice Department says Sessions has requested Tuesday's committee hearing be open because he "believes it is important for the American people to hear the truth directly from him."

Sessions faces questions about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. during the presidential campaign.

Spicer dismissed a new lawsuit filed against President Donald Trump by the attorneys general of Maryland and the District of Columbia as the result of "partisan politics."

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh and District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine filed the lawsuit Monday. It alleges Trump is violating the Constitution by taking payments from foreign governments while president.

Spicer also told reporters that the White House was reviewing the decision of another federal appeals court that has upheld a decision blocking the president's revised travel ban.

The ruling Monday from a unanimous three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals deals the administration another legal defeat as the Supreme Court considers a separate case on the issue.

The judges say the president violated U.S. immigration law by discriminating against people based on their nationality and that Trump failed to show their entry into the country would hurt American interests.

Washington, D.C. - 12 June 2017

1. Mid, Spicer at podium

2. Side, Spicer speaking

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"The president make clear in the Rose Garden last week that he would have an announcement shortly. (Reporter: Any sort of timeline on when the announcement will be?) When the president is ready to make it."

4. UPSOUND (English) Trey Yingst, Reporter One America News Network:

"What role did Attorney General Jeff Sessions play in the firing of James Comey?"

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"I am not going to discuss private conversations between the president and the attorney general."

6. UPSOUND (English) John Roberts, Fox News reporter:

"What does the president think about that Sessions will be testifying tomorrow and according to the Department of Justice wanted to testify in an open session rather than a closed, classified session?"

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"I think the president has been clear, last week in the Rose Garden that he believes the sooner we can get this addressed and dealt with, that there has been no collusion, he wants this to get investigated as soon as possible and be done with it so he can continue to do the business of the American people."

8. Cutaway

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"The president's interests, as previously discussed, do not violate the emoluments clause for reasons at length that the Department of Justice filing enumerate in their Friday night filing with respect to the CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) lawsuit, which was the first one. This lawsuit today is just another iteration of the case that was filed by that group CREW, filed by actually the same lawyers. So, it is not hard to conclude that partisan politics may be one of the motivations behind the seat (sic). The suit was filed by two Democratic attorney generals. The lawyers driving the suit are an advocacy group with partisan ties. It actually started with a news conference as opposed to filing it and the suit challenges the sort of business transaction that everyone from Penny Pritzker, who served in the last administration, and others have engaged in while in office. So, I think, we will continue to move to dismiss this case in the normal course of business."

10. Wide, reporters

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary:

"We are currently reviewing that opinion. I think we can all attest that these are very dangerous times and we need every available tool at our disposal to prevent terrorists from entering the United States and committing acts of bloodshed and violence. We continue to be confident that the president's executive order to protect this country is fully lawful and ultimately will be upheld by the Supreme Court."

12. Mid, reporters