DHS watchdog says Trump’s agency seems to have altered report on Russian interference in 2020 election partially due to politics

The April 26 Homeland Security inspector general's evaluation supplies a damning look at the way in which DHS' Workplace of Intelligence and Evaluation dealt with intelligence related to Russia's efforts to interfere in the US, stating the division had deviated from its normal procedures in modifying assessments related to Moscow's focusing on of the 2020 presidential election.

The conclusion that Trump's appointee appeared to have tried to downplay Russian meddling in a key intelligence report is the latest example of how his aides managed his aversion to any details about how Russia may be helping his election prospects. In keeping with particular counsel Robert Mueller's report, Trump officials tried to avoid the subject during conferences and at hearings, as a result of he would become enraged and upset when Russian meddling got here up.

The US intelligence community introduced throughout the 2020 campaign that Russia was actively meddling in the election to weaken then-candidate Joe Biden. On the time, Trump downplayed those findings and promoted false claims about Biden that aligned with Russia's disinformation efforts. The IG report addresses past suspicions that Trump appointees distorted some intelligence reviews to foster a more Trump-friendly narrative.

"We determined that the Appearing Secretary's involvement led to the rare occurrence of I&A ceasing dissemination of a product after it had already been permitted by the mission manager and circulated via superior notification," the report states.

"The delays and deviation from I&A's standard process and requirements put I&A vulnerable to making a notion of politicization. This conclusion is supported by I&A's personal tradecraft assessment, which determined that the product is likely to be viewed as politicized," it continues.

The whistleblower claimed that Wolf had instructed DHS officers to "cease offering intelligence assessments on the specter of Russian interference" and, as a substitute, focus their efforts on gathering info associated to actions being carried out by China and Iran.

The scope of the DHS IG report was limited to the only intelligence report in query.

Initially, the IG discovered, the DHS Intelligence and Evaluation Workplace had followed inside drafting and modifying processes. The report was two pages in length and associated to one "'current Democratic presidential candidate'" and to Russian actions to influence the presidential election. It advanced over time after receiving inner enter, in response to the IG report.

The IG additionally followed up on a July 2020 meeting mentioned by the whistleblower, who claimed Wolf had asked for the product to be held because "'it made the President look bad.'"

Based on notes of the assembly obtained by the IG, one high official wrote: "AS1 -- will damage POTUS -- kill it per his authorities." The official advised the IG the notes meant the appearing secretary had informed him to carry the product as a result of it will harm Trump and the authorities cited were in reference to those possessed by the secretary.

The IG's workplace interviewed Wolf, who denied saying this and added that he had asked for the product to be improved.

"I attempted to put myself in the position of considered one of our state and native partners who would be studying this and I could not see where the product, as written on July 8, would have added any worth or given them any knowledge they could use. ... The product was not effectively written," the acting secretary informed the IG's office, in line with the report.

The delays and disruptions, although, put the workplace susceptible to creating the perception of politicization, the IG report states. The IG advisable working with the Office of the Secretary and I&A oversight entities to make sure election-related reviews are in step with policies and guidelines. I&A agreed with the advice.

CNN's Marshall Cohen contributed to this report.