University of Rhode Island considers revoking Michael Flynn’s honorary degree

The University of Rhode of Island (URI) is considering revoking an honorary degree that it bestowed to 1981 alumnus and former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

GoLocalProv.com first reported Tuesday that debate over whether to revoke the degree given in 2014 was has been going on for months, and that URI President David M. Dooley and the university board are expected to make a decision later in June.

“It sits with the president. The board has its next meeting end of June,” said URI spokesperson Linda Acciardo, according to the news site.

Acciardo later told the Providence Journal: “At the request of President David Dooley, the URI Honorary Degree Committee met on January 29 and February 5, 2021 to discuss the honorary degree of Gen. Flynn. The Committee sent a recommendation to President Dooley on February 12 for his consideration.”

Acciardo added that a decision has not yet been made. Dooley will now forward his own recommendation to the university’s Board of Trustees, according to Acciardo, which will then include the item in one of its public meetings.

Dooley and the Board of Trustees may likely take Flynn’s recent comments during a Q&A session at a conference into consideration. While speaking at an event attended by many QAnon supporters this past weekend, Flynn could be heard in a video saying a Myanmar-like coup “should happen here” in the U.S.

Here is the video of former national security advisor Michael Flynn saying that he thinks a coup like the coup in Myanmar should happen in the US. pic.twitter.com/7mGYjfXg18

— Mamie (@MC_Hyperbole) May 30, 2021

He later denied suggesting there should be a coup in the U.S., writing on Telegram: “There is NO reason whatsoever for any coup in America, and I do not and have not at any time called for any action of that sort.”

“Any reporting of any other belief by me is a boldface fabrication based on twisted reporting at a lively panel at a conference of Patriotic Americans who love this country, just as I do,” Flynn added.

Updated at 2:11 p.m.