We certainly listen to foreign conversations. If the foreign conversation includes an American, any American, his identity is masked. It’s illegal to surveil Americans without a warrant.
So from what I understand, if a transcript of the call is made, the American identity is hidden, or masked.
It requires a FISA warrant or a specific national security request to unmask the American.
It should be exceedingly rare. In the Obama administration, we’re about ready to find out just how common it was. I think we’re also going to find out that they magically only had reason to unmask Republicans and political enemies.
But of course, there’s not a hint of scandal
Ok, thank you for good explanation. Here is where I get confused.
So a transcript was made of a phone call between Flynn and the Russian guy. Since Flynn is an American, his identity would be kept secret.
UNLESS a FISA warrant is filled out which a court would approve. Or, like you say, a national security request is made.
But if Flynn’s identity was correctly kept a secret, how would all these 39 people know who they want to be unmasked?
Say I’m conversing with my terrorist cousin in Pakistan and since I am American, my identity is kept a secret.
How would Joe Blow from Accounting know to request that I....I....ME...be unmasked when my name is kept secret?
Would they say we want to know the name of the American who spoke to John Doe the terrorist....so okay.
But the headlines keep saying they requested that FLYNN be unmasked and I dunno, maybe they just asked for whoever was speaking with the Russian guy.
Hope I am making some sense.
Maybe it should be but it's not.
There are thousands of requests each year and the Trump administration is holding its own.