Declassification of Trump-Russia Documents

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently declassified a series of documents that shed light on the Obama administration’s handling of intelligence related to the Trump-Russia collusion narrative. These documents suggest that intelligence was “manufactured” to support claims of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Intelligence Community Assessments

The declassified records reveal that, prior to the November 2016 election, the intelligence community assessed that Russia was “probably not trying” to influence the election through cyber means. A notable instance is a December 7, 2016, statement by then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, which indicated that foreign adversaries did not use cyberattacks to alter the election outcome.

Presidential Daily Brief Insights

A declassified Presidential Daily Brief from December 8, 2016, prepared by various intelligence agencies, stated that Russian and criminal actors did not impact the election results through malicious cyber activities. Although Russian-affiliated actors compromised an Illinois voter registration database, it was deemed “highly unlikely” that this would have altered any state’s official vote result.

FBI’s Dissent and Delayed Publication

The FBI expressed concerns about the original Presidential Daily Brief, drafting a “dissent” and delaying its publication. A meeting on December 9, 2016, in the White House Situation Room included top officials discussing potential sanctions against Russian military intelligence for cyber activities.

Creation of a New Intelligence Assessment

Following these events, a new Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) was ordered by President Obama, detailing Moscow’s alleged actions to influence the election. However, this assessment contradicted earlier intelligence findings and was criticized for being “politicized.”

House Intelligence Committee Report

A report by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in 2020 highlighted that there was no direct information indicating Russian President Vladimir Putin’s preference for Donald Trump. The report criticized the ICA for including biased intelligence and ignoring alternative explanations for Putin’s intentions.

Allegations Against Hillary Clinton

The declassified documents also contain allegations regarding Hillary Clinton’s health and campaign strategies. Russian intelligence reportedly had information about Clinton’s health issues and a plan to link Putin and Russian hackers to Trump to distract from her email server scandal. These claims were dismissed by a Clinton aide as “ridiculous.”