(30.1.2018) Congressional researchers confirmed that the “Rule X” procedure used by the Intelligence Committee to release the memo had never been used before.

“It does not appear that either house has invoked its procedure for disclosing classified information,” the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service wrote in a May 18 report, before Monday’s party-line vote. The CRS said that the rule was designed to allow disclosures of classified information when it would serve an “essential” public interest.