CNN and most of the mainstream media have been downplaying a report by Bloomberg’s Eli Lake naming former national security adviser Susan Rice as one of the people involved in the alleged unmasking of private U.S. citizens swept up during Obama administration surveillance operations.
CNN addressed the claim earlier in the day, but chief national security correspondent Jim Sciutto didn’t think there was much to it after hearing from former intel officials from both Democrat and Republican administrations.
Multiple former intel officials from GOP & Dem admins tell me the unmasking story is overblown. Tune in to @TheLeadCNN at 425p
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) April 3, 2017
The clincher, though, was a tip from a person close to Rice who told Sciutto the very idea that Rice would improperly seek the identities of Americans was false.
Just in: "The idea that Ambassador Rice improperly sought the identities of Americans is false." – person close to Rice tells me
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) April 3, 2017
@jimsciutto @allahpundit Riiiiight
— Saved By The Blood (@vonzion) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto "Improperly." Nice caveat.
— Chuck Vipperman (@ChuckVipperman) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto So she sought the identities, she just didn’t think it was improper?
— Dennis Dalziel (@ddalziel) April 4, 2017
Why is this anonymous? (Not being snarky, really curious) https://t.co/yUK8iBRKXQ
— Olivier Knox (@OKnox) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto Save some time. Just pin the tweet "What Rice said."
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto Former member of Obama admin says Susan Rice report is false.
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto .So her family say she's innocent. Gotcha.
— red pill economist (@redpilleconomic) April 3, 2017
@redpilleconomic @jimsciutto Probably her husband, who works for ABC News
— Chris McAllister (@themanfronUNCLE) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto Tell Susan's mom I said, "Hi." ??? https://t.co/uhuuJz8sUs
— Suz Snarknado (@CobaltZann) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto Oh well Idk how anyone could argue this
— Stephen M. Scott (@Stephen_M_Scott) April 3, 2017
@jimsciutto Well.. getting someone not close to her saying that would be more credible. otherwise great job
— LibPhil (@libphil_) April 3, 2017
@jimsciutto OH! Well why didn't you say so!? That sounds convincing. Also, she lied in a tv interview (shocker) a few weeks ago regarding this issue. ?
— AEJ (@patriotismplz) April 4, 2017
In March, she said she didn't know anything about unmasking. New story: she knew a lot, but it was proper. Ok, guy. https://t.co/duyWUE6Chw
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) April 3, 2017
@jimsciutto ?????Wait, didn't she say in an interview she knew NOTHING about unmasking and was SHOCKED to hear about it..
— #MAGA Girl (@Miabella4u) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto Then why did she lie about it on tv last week? Why not just tell us she did it?
— LyzEstrada (@wiedjane) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto This is really poor work. If she's going to refute @EliLake's piece let her put out an official statement – don't carry her water for her.
— Will Nye (@willfnye) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto See why we all think CNN is #fakenews? Are you getting your story lines from the DNC?
— Gary Giessmann (@Rhetticent) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto Yeah, I heard that she did this as a spontaneous response to a YouTube video
— CTIronman (@CTIronman) April 4, 2017
What innocent YouTuber will she be jailing for this incident, Jimmy? #SusanRice
— OverIt (@sublime277) April 3, 2017
@jimsciutto Just in: you're ridiculous
— Christopher R Taylor (@KestrelArts) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto 3 straight Susan Rice defense lawyer tweets. Shill much?
— Tom T (@Tomtmd) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto BREAKING NEWS: @CNN trying hard to stop the #SusanRice news cycle!
— Chris Kutzler (@CKphilly500) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto Just in:" The idea that Ambassador Rice improperly sought the identities of Americans is true:" – person close to me tells me
— Scotty Arinder (@csarinder) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto @allahpundit You have no credibility on these issues, and Rice is even worse – a demonstrated, repetitive public liar.
— motionview (@motionview) April 4, 2017
@jimsciutto Her integrity is at zero. Media, even less.
— DernDawn (@noprezzie2012) April 4, 2017
Maybe this was the reason for Susan Rice’s recent and mysterious credibility rehabilitation tour.
Update:
Also just in, almost two hours later:
Statement cont'd: "There is nothing unusual abt making these requests when serving as a sr. national security official, whether Dem or GOP"
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) April 4, 2017
* * *
Related:
‘The Onion’? Susan Rice unabashedly doubles down on self-unawareness https://t.co/WbDJuCrtT9
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 23, 2017
