All of this "unmasking" falls under the FISA 702 rules. NOT the straight FISA warrant rules which permit the specific nuance or granting surveillance of an American.

Meaning anyone with clearance can use the loophole in the 702 rules to search and unmask an American that the AG (which was Lynch) and/or the DNI (which was Clapper) had certified as "intelligence worthy of national security" (renewed the surveillance of the foreign entity on the other side of the conversation).

So if the Russian Ambo had been re-authorized annually for 702 surveillance, then any American who spoke to him was accessible in the search query. And anyone with top level clearance (i.e. the 20 people Comey mentioned) could unmask that American. Susan Rice included.

THIS is how and why the Libs are saying it was supposedly "legal".

Now combine this 702 loophole with AG Lynch's (at the obvious behest of Obama) restructuring of the EO 12333, which changed the dissemination rules of "foreign intelligence worthy of national security", and we can see clearly a concerted effort of this administration to "cover their ass" IF this unmasking and dissemination were ever exposed.

What they don't get is that the oddly timed changing of that EO actually CONFIRMS their obvious improprieties.

They may have made it all "technically" legal, but in doing so they sealed the fact that they were doing this for completely unethical reasons.

In the end on this, they are not going to be able to explain why or how Trump's conversations with the Australian PM and Mexican President supposedly met the requirement of "intelligence worthy of national security". Which means the use of 702 to unmask Trump on those calls couldn't possibly have had proper intelligence value or met the requirements.

In addition to these intelligence reports from these unmaskings being leaked to the Press. Whomever is responsible for the unmasking MUST also be held accountable for the subsequent mishandling. You can't legally produce intelligence reports and then brief the likes of Hillary and Farkus, and then the intel ends up in the media, and suddenly claim "not my fault someone leaked classified material!"

This is a very obvious abuse of our surveillance capabilities. They crossed the line, and then consciously made it legal after the fact when they realized Hillary lost.

This should bring on a RICO case that destroys Obama, everyone around him, and his legacy. And the Democrats should be relegated to neutered eunuchs with dunce hats on sitting in the corner while Republicans govern from an unstoppable comfortable majority.

https://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/politics/explaining-the-fine-details-re-unmasking-and-702/69474978/