This sort of thing used to be illegal until Obama relaxed privacy rules in 2011. So while it's not technically illegal (Nunes and others think it should be), it is a clear abuse of the privilege. It may even be an abuse of power if the White House used the unmasking to leak the names of Trump officials to the press for political purposes.
So IMO this might not fall under Session's jurisdiction.
“This sort of thing used to be illegal until Obama relaxed privacy rules in 2011. So while it’s not technically illegal (Nunes and others think it should be), it is a clear abuse of the privilege.”
It was illegal because even the relaxed rules required judicial approval and there were restrictions on spying on Americans.
It was illegal for the government to spy on people for purely political purposes and to lie about it.
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...This sort of thing used to be illegal until Obama relaxed privacy rules in 2011...
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Let me take a stab at it. I’ll presume, *Obama* relaxed, by Exec fiat, like he did w/ the ‘welfare work requirements, instead of by Legislative?
IOW, as ILLEGAL pre-fiat as it were post, as he has no authority to (re)write law.
Not that I suspect Sessions would do *anything* in either case.