1. Unmasking is not illegal. The process for unmasking vary from agency to agency and case by case depending on how the information was collected. If it turns out that procedures weren't followed, they would most likely be subject to administrative discipline. We don't know the exact procedures because it's CLASSIFIED.

2. Who can unmask? If a national security official who receives an intelligence report feels like he or she needs to know the identity of a U.S. person in an intelligence report, that official can make a request to "unmask." It's somewhat routine. The Trump administration does it as well.

3. Who can be unmasked? If a serious person or company or entity with the ability to provide that technology / sensitive information perhaps to an adversary. That would be an example of a case where knowing who the U.S. person was, was necessary to assess the information."

The question is NOT about unmasking. The question is if someone LEAKED Mike Flynn's name to the media after being unmasked. That would be more problematic. Note the person unmasked is anonymous. Thus, the official asking to unmask does not know it's Mike Flynn.

There 3 exceptions to the rule to unmask a US citizen:

1. The information is available publicly.
2. "The identity of the United States person is necessary to understand foreign intelligence information or assess its importance.
3. The intelligence indicates that the U.S. person may be "an agent of a foreign power."

With this person's shady past dealings with Russia and Turkey, there's more than enough reasons to unmask. In fact, acting DNI Grenell should also declassify Flynn's call transcript with Kisylak. That would give more context to the unmasking. Why he did not is a mystery. It feels politcal.

If William Barr can prove someone leaked Flynn's unmasking, that might present problems for that person. That's a fair argument. However, a conspiracy? A lot more is needed than an "unmasking." An unmasking is not a rare occurrence. More importantly, the unmaksing does not change Mike Flynn's actions. The man is not a good person. He's a scumbag and pleaded guilty to a felony. He got what he deserved.

[Post edited by Blah at 05/14/2020 09:50AM]