Declassified Susan Rice email shows Comey suggested 'sensitive' info on Russia not be shared with Flynn
Former FBI Director James Comey suggested to then-President Barack
Obama in a January 2017 meeting that the National Security Council might not want to pass "sensitive information related to Russia" to then-incoming national security adviser Michael Flynn, according to a newly declassified email that Flynn's predecessor sent herself on Inauguration Day.
The note from
Susan Rice was declassified by Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell and transmitted to the Justice Department. Fox News obtained a copy Tuesday from GOP Sen. Ron Johnson's office, which had sought access to the document.
The
Jan. 20, 2017 email Rice sent to herself documented a Jan. 5, 2017 Oval Office meeting with Obama and others, where he provided guidance on how law enforcement should investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential race. Parts of it were previously released, but the section on Comey's response had been classified as "TOP SECRET" until now.
The section says that Comey affirmed to Obama he was proceeding "by the book," and went on to discuss concerns about Flynn's known conversations with Russia's ambassador at the time -- conversations that would later play a role in the criminal case against Flynn.
Rice continued: "From a national security perspective, Comey said he does have some concerns that incoming NSA Flynn is speaking frequently with Russian Ambassador Kislyak. Comey said that could be an issue as it relates to sharing sensitive information. President Obama asked if Comey was saying that the NSC should not pass sensitive information related to Russia to Flynn."
RIce then wrote, "Comey replied 'potentially.' He added that he has no indication thus far that Flynn has passed classified information to Kislyak, but he noted that 'the level of communication is unusual.'"
Republicans have zeroed in on the Rice email amid heightened questions over the handling of the Russia probe and top-level awareness inside the Obama administration.
Rice’s email to herself was first flagged in 2018 by Grassley, R-Iowa, the former Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who now sits as chairman of the panel. The email was partially unclassified at the time and appeared to detail the Jan. 5, 2017, meeting, which included Obama, Rice, Comey, then-CIA Director John Brennan, and then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and then-Vice President Joe Biden.
Declassified Susan Rice email shows Comey suggested 'sensitive' info on Russia not be shared with Flynn
