Susan Rice, Obama’s former National Security Advisor and UN Ambassador, will testify behind closed doors before a House Intelligence Committee next month as part of their investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, CNN reported Thursday citing sources familiar with the private talks.
Republican lawmakers have been eager to question Rice after allegations surfaced that Rice, former UN Ambassador Samantha Power, and former CIA Director John Brennan revealed the names of Trump transition team members for political reasons in intelligence reports, a practice known as “unmasking.”
Rice initially denied any knowledge of unmasking during her time in the White House, but then changed her story during an interview, telling MSNBC that she unmasked individuals for the sake of national security.
"We only do it to protect the American people and to do our jobs." Rice said, denying surveillance of Trump officials for political purposes. "I leaked nothing to nobody and never have and never would."
"Ambassador Rice is cooperating with bipartisan Russia investigations conducted by the Intelligence Committees as she said she would," said Erin Pelton, a spokesperson for Rice, told CNN.
Rice turned down a request in May to testify before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee. Rice's testimony before the House Intelligence Committee will be a closed-door session and is expected to take place before the House leaves for August recess.
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