CNN’s Jim Sciutto posted a screenshot of a letter sent to Sen. Chuck Schumer by CIA Director Mike Pompeo, summarized by this text in his tweet. Pay special attention to the ellipses:
Just in: @CIA Director Pompeo responds on @SenSchumer on unannounced meetings with Russian intel chiefs: “We periodically meet with our Russian intelligence counterparts…to keep Americans safe”
And here’s the full letter. Now, read what he left out:
Just in: @CIA Director Pompeo responds on @SenSchumer on unannounced meetings with Russian intel chiefs: “We periodically meet with our Russian intelligence counterparts…to keep Americans safe” pic.twitter.com/utia0I60sj
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) February 1, 2018
“[F]or the same reasons our predecessors did” is quite possibly the most important part of the letter:
“The same as our predecessors” seems like an important line, no?
I admit it’s less sexy and mysterious with that obvious clarity included. https://t.co/WYk5dHZxhr
— John Noonan (@noonanjo) February 1, 2018
In other words, the Trump administration is doing the exact same thing as was done during the Obama administration and it’s Sen. Schumer who should be called out.
It’s longstanding practice, which makes this far less clickable of a story.
— John Noonan (@noonanjo) February 1, 2018
Sciutto’s tweet was 195 characters so we know he had room for the rest of the quote and still fall under Twitter’s 280-character limit.
In retrospect, this is what Sciutto’s tweet should have said:
Pompeo exposes Schumer as a partisan hack. https://t.co/n06UkIyFsj
— Fusilli Spock (@awstar11) February 1, 2018
But it’s too late as the damage is already done with people not bothering to read the text of the letter. Some examples:
@CIA – Director Pompeo – Bullshit https://t.co/muoctAY4KN
— Andrew C Laufer, Esq (@lauferlaw) February 1, 2018
How would that keep Americans safe? Perhaps the FSB can provide some tips on protesters to arrest? https://t.co/MF3rKqFp4U
— X Soviet (@XSovietNews) February 1, 2018
Then why did Pompeo keep it out of the news????? I would feel safer if they prevented Russians from COMING TO THE U.S.!!! https://t.co/eWwWXt805s
— Kim M. ☮️ (@Blacklace40) February 1, 2018
Sorry Mike. @SenSchumer This is NOT remotely a good enough explanation https://t.co/82SQ22CQgt
— B BlueTrue (@bbluetrue1) February 1, 2018
Well now I have a ton more questions…….. https://t.co/8X89XmRvwU
— tabfree (@tabfreeweir) February 1, 2018
Update. Sciutto just added this:
What Pompeo does not address is fact that the Russian intel chief involved is currently under US sanction & his agency was involved in 2016 election hacking. https://t.co/iebALPg8qm
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) February 1, 2018
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