The argument here is it was totally unfair that the sitting administration's top foreign policy, national security, and law enforcement officials found out who was conducting secret conversations with Russia's ambassador about undermining the administration's foreign policy.
Try thinking it through:
US intelligence is monitoring Russia's ambassador--of course they are, not least because he's known to be involved with Russian intelligence--and catch him talking to an American about undermining US foreign policy. So they have to... willfully ignore it?
US intelligence is monitoring Russia's ambassador--of course they are, not least because he's known to be involved with Russian intelligence--and catch him talking to an American about undermining US foreign policy. So they have to... willfully ignore it?
Logan Act stuff is silly. Incoming officials reaching out to foreign counterparts is fine.
But US officials knew Russia conducted a big intel op against the US, and knew this convo with Kislyak was hidden from the US gov. Not finding out who it was would be a dereliction of duty.
But US officials knew Russia conducted a big intel op against the US, and knew this convo with Kislyak was hidden from the US gov. Not finding out who it was would be a dereliction of duty.
People caught up in conspiracy theorizing are missing that US foreign policy and NatSec officials couldn't know who was caught conducting secret convos about undermining US foreign policy before they asked.
That's why clutching pearls over them finding out who it was is silly.
That's why clutching pearls over them finding out who it was is silly.
Unmasking happens 1000s of times a year (see👇).
Reasonable to find out the name of an American in a US intel intercept if there's probable cause for concern. Flynn's convo with Russia's amb after Russia conducted an anti-US intel op definitely qualifies.
Reasonable to find out the name of an American in a US intel intercept if there's probable cause for concern. Flynn's convo with Russia's amb after Russia conducted an anti-US intel op definitely qualifies.
