Thursday on CNN’s “New Day,” former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper discussed the report that Obama administration officials wanted to “unmask” former President Donald Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.
“New Day” host John Berman asked Clapper why he made three specific requests to unmask the name of an individual on December 2, December 28 and January 7.
Clapper said he does not remember why he made those three specific requests, nor does he remember what prompted the request that was made on his behalf.
“No, I don’t,” Clapper told Berman. “I don’t recall what prompted a request that was made on my behalf for unmasking. I don’t remember the specifics or what it was in the second report that was suggestive enough that I was concerned and felt that I should know who was actually involved.”
Here are the key 2026 House and Senate races to watch that could decide control of Congress
Trump says US will intervene if Iran starts killing protesters: ‘Locked and loaded’
Is a Korean reality show the last honest sport?
SBA suspends nearly 7,000 Minnesota borrowers over suspected $400M pandemic loan fraud
The Trump administration’s unfinished business in Gaza
The Force adrift
Hours after taking office, NYC Mayor Mamdani targets landlords, moves to intervene in private bankruptcy case
Numbers Don’t Lie: CNN, MSNBC Ratings Flip Upside Down from Trump’s First Term to Trump 2.0
Happy New Year: Pentagon Ends 2025 with a Bang, Hits Narco-Terrorists Whose Drugs Will Not Kill Americans This Year
Historic Amsterdam Church Burns as ‘Unprecedented’ New Year’s Eve Violence Grips the City
Another Self-Driving Car Goes Rogue in California: Taxi Drives Passenger Into Active L.A. Fire Scene
Bernie Sanders ditches iconic mittens look while swearing in socialist Zohran Mamdani as NYC mayor
London mayor denies removing Star of David from fireworks show
Fox News ‘Antisemitism Exposed’ Newsletter: You won’t believe what TikTok was selling
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Copies One of Trump’s Signature Policies
He added of his concerns with Flynn, “There was general concern about the number of engagements with Russians that we were seeing happening. We may not necessarily have known what the content of these engagements were, but there were numerous engagements by representatives of the Trump camp with Russians. So, that was of … general concern anyway. So that, I think, is what attracted the attention of me and other then-serving national security officials.”
Clapper went on reiterate he never saw direct evidence of collusion between Trump, Flynn or any other Trump officials, but did reveal there could have been a threat to national security, which would be a reason to unmask.
“There could have been, as I say, other reasons why you would unmask,” Clapper stated. “Again, when you read the report, it may not tell you what exactly is going on, so whether it was collusion or what, what you’re trying to determine [is] does this pose a threat to national security?”
Story cited here.
