ELIANA JOHNSON, POLITICO: We chronicled a couple of weeks ago that as a result of complaints from the CIA to national security advisor H.R. McMaster, he sought to remove Ezra Cohen-Watnick from the National Security Council and was overruled by President Trump who wanted to keep him there. I think its important to note that '''Ezra Cohen-Watnick distinguished himself as a very young but ambitious and capable behind the scenes worker on the National Security Council''', and developed a relationship with Jared Kushner and Steve Bannon in his short time at the White House and was able to appeal to them to stay in his position. '''He is in a position typically occupied by a senior level analyst from the CIA. He had come from the defense intelligence agency'''. I also think it
s important to note we dont know that either Ezra Cohen-Watnick or Michael Ellis did anything appropriate when you
re talking about the politicization of intelligence, it may be that they sought to give information to Devin Nunes, the chairman of the house intelligence committee, that would bolster the presidents case. It also appears that the intelligence that they showed him the names of American officials who were working for Donald Trump were not redacted from that information. And that
s also inappropriate and concerning I think should be a subject of concern for all Americans. It doesn`t seem to be – that seems to be getting lost in all of this. So I think on both sides, on the Trump side and on the Obama administration side there are matters of deep concern for everybody.