Flynn, a Rhode Island native whose book Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies, comes out July 12, has shown a willingness to be an attack dog, a role often played by vice-presidential candidates.
“If it were me, I would have been out the door and probably in jail,” Flynn told CNN in February when asked about presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clintons email practices while secretary of state. He called on her to drop out of the race.
Flynn did not leave the Obama administration on warm terms. In 2014, he was effectively forced out of the Defense Intelligence Agency as part of a leadership shake-up after clashing with officials over his management style and vision for the agency.