The email Rice sent to herself on Jan. 20, 2017, documented a Jan. 5 meeting in the Oval Office with former President Barack Obama and others, regarding how law enforcement should address Russian interference in the 2016 presidential race is an interesting read. Most of it was previously declassified, but the section on Comey's response to President Obama’s question remained classified as top secret.
Presumably that section remained top secret to avoid possible influence in the Flynn legal matter. With the charges dropped, there was no need for it to remain top secret.
The portion remaining classifed was:
"From a national security perspective, Comey said he does have some concerns that incoming NSA Flynn is speaking frequently with Russian Ambassador Kislyak. Comey said that could be an issue as it relates to sharing sensitive information. President Obama asked if Comey was saying that the NSC should not pass sensitive information related to Russia to Flynn. Comey replied, 'potentially.' He added that he has no indication thus far that Flynn has passed classified information to Kislyak, but he noted that 'the level of communication is unusual.'"
In a statement by Rice's representative, Erin Pelton, about the email's release, Pelton said: "no discussion of law enforcement matters or investigations took place, despite dishonest accusations to the contrary."
Also Pelton said that the Obama administration did not change the way it briefed Flynn, saying Rice briefed Flynn for more than 12 hours on four separate occasions during the transition. K.T. MacFarlane, Flynn’s deputy, has countered that in the two meetings that she attended with Rice and Flynn, Rice never once mentioned Russia. Practically every other country in the world was discussed at length, she said, but not Russia.
Although they had no evidence of anything untoward, they did not trust him. So they put him under close surveillance and tried to get him to show his hand. When he never did, they executed their insurance plan. This memo--closely held by the intelligence services and a few key players--was part of that plan. It almost succeeded.
I would wager to guess that there is more to come.
