Q&A on 'unmasking' and leaking classified information

WASHINGTON (AP) — After FBI Director James Comey publicly acknowledged Monday the existence of an ongoing counterintelligence investigation into potential links between the Trump campaign and the Russian government, the White House introduced a new narrative to push back against the allegations.

Spicer was referring to reports that Flynn, when he was the incoming national security adviser, spoke with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. in late December.

The U.S. government learned of this conversation through routine surveillance of the Russian ambassador to the U.S.

When a U.S. intelligence agency, such as the National Security Agency, conducts surveillance of a foreigner inside the U.S., sometimes that surveillance will include the name of an American that the foreigner is speaking to or about.

"If, for instance, an intelligence piece were about Russian intelligence assets engaged in an operation to influence political figures, the identity of the political figure would be necessary," said Todd Hinnen, head of the Justice Department's National Security Division during the Obama administration and a National Security Council staff member under George W. Bush.

On Monday, National Security Agency director Michael Rogers said there are 20 people at the NSA, including himself, who have the authority to reveal the name of an American in a surveillance report.

The target, Kislyak, is contacted by an American who is the incoming national security adviser in the new administration — Michael Flynn — and that American is discussing the future administration's policy.