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The list of Obama administration officials who requested the unmasking of General Michael Flynn during the transition period between the November 2016 election and President Trump's January 20, 2017 inauguration has been released.
Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson have published the list, and they say this is "just one step forward"---with many more to follow.
Be informed.
Republican Senators Grassley and Johnson said this as they released the formerly "classified list" to the public:
“Today we received a list of individuals who requested the unmasking of Lt. General Michael Flynn and others who received access to that information. The officials listed should confirm whether they reviewed this information, why they asked for it and what they did with it, and answer many other questions that have been raised by recent revelations. We are making this public because the American people have a right to know what happened. We commend Acting DNI Grenell and Attorney General Barr for their transparency and responsiveness. Our investigation of these matters has been ongoing for years, and as information finally comes to light, our focus on these issues is even more important now."
"The records are one step forward in an important effort to get to the bottom of what the Obama administration did during the Russia investigation and to Lt. General Flynn. We will continue to review this information and push for additional relevant disclosures until we are satisfied that the American people know the full truth.
It is not a crime to ask for unmasking of an American individual on a phone call with a foreign actor, so long as the official asking for the information has a proper security clearance.
It is, however, illegal to leak the name of the unmasked American to the media. It is also illegal to unmask Americans for political purposes.
Flynn's name was leaked to the Washington Post. The next step in this matter will involve discovering who did leak the name and were the requests for unmasking politically motivated?
Here's some of the list and the date of their request:
- Vice President Joe Biden - One request January 12, 2017
- FBI Director James Comey - One request December 15, 2016
- Director of National Intelligence James Clapper - Three requests
- CIA Director John Brennan - Two requests - December 14-15, 2016
- U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power - Seven requests: November 30, 2016 -December 2, 7, 14, 23, 2016, January 11, 2017
- Obama Chief of Staff Dennis McDonough - One request January 5, 2017
- Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Intelligence Integration Michael Dempsey - One request January 7, 2017
- U.S Ambassador to Russia John Tefft - December 16, 2016
- U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Ambassador Barr - December 28, 2016
- Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew - Two requests December 14, 2016 and January 12, 2017
- Acting Assistant Secretary Treasury Arthur McGlynn December 14, 2016
- Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Stephanie O'Sullivan - One request January 7, 2017
Joe Biden, in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America" Tuesday, said he "knew nothing" about the investigation of General Flynn.
When ABC's George Stephanopoulos---surprisingly, pressed the matter saying:
"You say you didn't know about it, but you were reported to be in a Jan. 5th, 2017 where you and the president were briefed on the FBI's plan to question Michael Flynn...?"
Caught in the act, Biden said, "No, I thought you asked me whether or not I had anything to do with him being prosecuted." Watch this:
Coincidence?
Here's what I think.
On January 5, 2017, a meeting was held in the Oval Office with Obama and several top administration officials including Vice President Biden. The plan to get Flynn was hatched up---at least to some degree.
One week later, Jan. 12, 2017, we learn from "the list" VP Joe Biden requested an unmasking of Flynn's name.
On the same day ---January 12, 2017, the Washington Post ran a breaking story on Flynn with the information that had been leaked to them about Flynn. WAPO writer David Ignatius revealed the conversation between Flynn and his Russian counterpart. There was nothing wrong or inappropriate about the conversation. In fact, it was Flynn's new job to be in contact with various foreign governments on behalf of the president.
Is it a coincidence? Did Biden leak to the Washington Post? Whoever leaked the classified information committed a crime that is punishable under the law.
Britt Hume says this whole Russian Collusion affair is the "worst journalistic fiasco" he's seen in his 50-year career as a journalist.
Hume, who has worked for ABC and over the past 20 or so years with Fox News, blasted the pursuit of the "collusion narrative" by top newspapers such as the New York Times and the Washington Post in a relentless chase that eventually landed the coverage Pulitzer Prizes in 2018.
Hume ticked off a long list of specific instances where the press has misled the public by faulty and fake reporting.
Founding Father Noah Webster warned of what we are seeing in our times.
He said:
"When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just just men who will rule in the fear of God. The preservation of a republican government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty;"
If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; law will be made not for the public good so much as for the selfish or local purposes.;
Corrupt or incompetent men will soon be appointed to execute the laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded.
If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because its citizens neglect the divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws.
Pray for America. Pray for the President and the Vice President. Vote.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Prayerful. Vote.