A subplot to the scandal of Russian interference in the 2016
election was the discovery that Obama
Administration officials had “unmasked” the identity of certain Trump
campaign officials in intelligence reports. The unmasking was later traced to
Susan Rice, who was President Obama’s national security advisor at the time.
The unmasking constituted a potential
crime.
CNN
cites multiple sources who say that Rice told House investigators in a
closed-door session that she requested the unmasking to try to determine why
the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates made a trip to New York during the
transition period. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan met with several Trump
transition officials including Michael Flynn, Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner
while in the US. last December. The Obama Administration was not notified of
the trip by the UAE as is customary for visits by foreign dignitaries.
“I didn't hear anything to believe that she did anything
illegal,” said Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fl.), a member of House panel investigating
the Russian interference.
The term “unmasking” refers to the practice of revealing the
identity of American citizens who appear in the incidental collection of
surveillance data where the primary target of the surveillance is a foreign
national. Intelligence officials can request that the identities of the US
citizens be “unmasked” in certain circumstances.
Judicial
Watch had previously requested National Security Council records relating
to the unmasking, but was informed that they had been transferred to the Obama
Presidential Library. “You should be aware that under the Presidential Records
Act, Presidential records remain closed to the public for five years after an
administration has left office,” the NSC response noted.
It is not clear whether the case is completely closed on
Rice’s unmasking request, but her testimony goes a long way towards explaining
the issue. There was also no indication of why the UAE did not disclose the
visit by the crown prince to the Obama Administration.
Originally published
on The Resurgent
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