Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell declassified a list of Obama administration officials believed to be involved in the “unmasking” of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, according to ABC News.
U.S. law requires identifying information of U.S. persons picked up during foreign surveillance be hidden, or “masked.” Only high-ranking intelligence officials, such as Grenell, can request those identities be revealed.
Grenell brought the list with him to a visit to the Justice Department last week, according to the network. His visit was the same week that Attorney General William Barr decided to drop charges against Flynn of lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia shortly before President Trump took office.
The dismissal of charges led to widespread criticism of the Justice Department.
In May 2019, Trump gave Barr the power to declassify government intelligence before the Justice Department audited the Russia probe.
Republican Rep. Devin Nunes (Calif.), ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, has accused the Obama administration of improper unmasking of Trump transition officials.
Former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice said she unmasked the identities of Trump officials during the transition, according to ABC.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not immediately respond to an inquiry from The Hill.
Updated: 10:56 a.m.