Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C. and other members of the Senate Intelligence Committee had a sub rosa meeting in the subterranean SCIF with FBI Director James Comey. The topic: Russian influence in last fall's election, leaks and undoubtedly, how someone exposed a phone call between former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and Moscow's Ambassador to Washington Sergey Kislyak.
Better yet, how did they intercept the call? Was it a mistake? Was Flynn under surveillance? Was there a super-secret warrant authorized by a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court?
Even so, why was the U.S. wiretapping one of its own citizens? FISA law expressly prohibits such eavesdropping. Were the participants on the call ”unmasked" because spooks were listening for something else and stumbled upon Flynn on the line?
Flynn is now out of a job but really a bystander in the whole operation.
”I want to know what the Russians have on Donald Trump?" demanded House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
Her fellow Democrats went further, invoking parlance from a malignant era not so long ago.
”Did the president know and when did he know it?" asked House Majority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
Whatever the reason, it was enough for Burr to keep the meeting on the Q.T. and slash his way through back hallways just to make the briefing. Congressional sources wouldn't even confirm on the record that Comey was at the Capitol.
Reporters never would have known Comey was around had the director's lanky, 6-foot-8-inch frame and robust security detail not betrayed him as he made his way to the conclave.
Soon, other senators came and went from the meeting, but no one would stop to talk or even generally elaborate on the subjects discussed.
”It was a classified briefing," was all Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, offered.
”We made our non-statement, statement," declared Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Intelligence committee.
This was truly under the Cone of Silence.
after huddling with Comey for more than two hours, the senators didn't say anything.
They didn't have to. Their silence said everything.
There are classified briefings. And then there are classified briefings.
There is no issue as white hot in Washington about what's going on now with Russia, Flynn and potential issues between President Trump and Moscow.
It may be poor form, but lawmakers on both sides of Capitol routinely walk out of classified sessions, stop at a bank of microphones and immediately spill things to the press.
It's not that they openly cough up classified or sensitive information to reporters. Sometimes the lawmakers grouse that they didn't learn anything in those briefings that they hadn't already read in the paper.
The fact that none of that jawboning unfolded following Friday's covert Comey confab reveals how vital the session truly was. The reticence revealed how sensitive the information may be.
This is always the challenge when reporting on intelligence matters.
Reporters never have the full story. They can't. The information is classified. It's illegal for those in the intelligence community, aides and lawmakers to publicly unveil top-secret material.
The leaks about Flynn say a lot about him and his political adversaries.
There were no leaks or even vague comments following Comey's session. This was a stark contrast to how things usually go down on Capitol Hill.
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...sults-is-uncanny-silence-among-lawmakers.html
Very long way to say that some serious intel was shared and made everyone lose their tongues.
edit: ffs, didn't notice title was fucked :/
Better yet, how did they intercept the call? Was it a mistake? Was Flynn under surveillance? Was there a super-secret warrant authorized by a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court?
Even so, why was the U.S. wiretapping one of its own citizens? FISA law expressly prohibits such eavesdropping. Were the participants on the call ”unmasked" because spooks were listening for something else and stumbled upon Flynn on the line?
Flynn is now out of a job but really a bystander in the whole operation.
”I want to know what the Russians have on Donald Trump?" demanded House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
Her fellow Democrats went further, invoking parlance from a malignant era not so long ago.
”Did the president know and when did he know it?" asked House Majority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
Whatever the reason, it was enough for Burr to keep the meeting on the Q.T. and slash his way through back hallways just to make the briefing. Congressional sources wouldn't even confirm on the record that Comey was at the Capitol.
Reporters never would have known Comey was around had the director's lanky, 6-foot-8-inch frame and robust security detail not betrayed him as he made his way to the conclave.
Soon, other senators came and went from the meeting, but no one would stop to talk or even generally elaborate on the subjects discussed.
”It was a classified briefing," was all Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, offered.
”We made our non-statement, statement," declared Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Intelligence committee.
This was truly under the Cone of Silence.
after huddling with Comey for more than two hours, the senators didn't say anything.
They didn't have to. Their silence said everything.
There are classified briefings. And then there are classified briefings.
There is no issue as white hot in Washington about what's going on now with Russia, Flynn and potential issues between President Trump and Moscow.
It may be poor form, but lawmakers on both sides of Capitol routinely walk out of classified sessions, stop at a bank of microphones and immediately spill things to the press.
It's not that they openly cough up classified or sensitive information to reporters. Sometimes the lawmakers grouse that they didn't learn anything in those briefings that they hadn't already read in the paper.
The fact that none of that jawboning unfolded following Friday's covert Comey confab reveals how vital the session truly was. The reticence revealed how sensitive the information may be.
This is always the challenge when reporting on intelligence matters.
Reporters never have the full story. They can't. The information is classified. It's illegal for those in the intelligence community, aides and lawmakers to publicly unveil top-secret material.
The leaks about Flynn say a lot about him and his political adversaries.
There were no leaks or even vague comments following Comey's session. This was a stark contrast to how things usually go down on Capitol Hill.
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...sults-is-uncanny-silence-among-lawmakers.html
Very long way to say that some serious intel was shared and made everyone lose their tongues.
edit: ffs, didn't notice title was fucked :/
