Clapper Instructed Staff to Alter Intelligence Procedures in 2017
Former National Intelligence Director James Clapper allegedly directed his staff to “compromise” normal procedures to expedite the evaluation of a politicized intelligence report back in 2017. His team indicated that there wasn’t “sufficient enough” evidence to have “absolute confidence” that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election.
National Intelligence Director Tarshi Gabbard declassified an email on Wednesday, revealing these details. Declassified records have come to light, showing a contentious environment over the integrity of intelligence assessments.
Claims of Manufactured Intelligence under Obama Administration
“The main players in what has been termed the Russian hoax have consistently misled the American public by presenting politicized assessments as trustworthy intelligence,” Gabbard stated. “Today’s email corroborates what we have been exposing. The decision to breach established protocols in the creation of the 2017 intelligence assessment was a deliberate action coming from the top.”
Gabbard emphasized that Clapper’s words support the assertion that following orders to fabricate intelligence amounted to “team sports.” Earlier in July, exclusive reports indicated that the Obama administration was politically motivated, fabricating intelligence narratives regarding Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, in direct contradiction to information from the intelligence community indicating otherwise.
The email, acquired by Fox News Digital, was sent to Clapper, John Brennan, and FBI Director James Comey on December 22, 2016. In it, former NSA Director Mike Rogers expressed his concerns about the rushed efforts to compile intelligence about Russian activities regarding the DNC/DCCC hacks.
Rogers noted, “I wanted to connect directly about concerns I have concerning what I’m hearing from my team. They reflected that while they strive to ensure we have the opportunity to review and weigh the intelligence, they’re anxious that time constraints may impede their ability to provide fully confident assessments.”
Concerns Over Intelligence Quality
He pointed out that while his colleagues were enthusiastic about their work, the hurried nature of the process raised fears. “I need to be 100% comfortable before presenting it,” Rogers insisted, stressing that collaboration among agencies (CIA, FBI, and NSA) was essential for credibility.
Hours later, Clapper replied, acknowledging Rogers’ alarms and emphasizing that harmony among the involved agencies was crucial. Clapper indicated that they might need to “compromise on normal modalities” due to a compressed timeline, reiterating that collective effort was vital.
The subsequent 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment concluded that “Russia was responsible for leaking data” from the DNC and DCCC. However, it is worth noting that the assessment did not underscore earlier expressions of low confidence regarding these attributions. In fact, intelligence sources had consistently indicated that Russia was “probably not using cyber means” to influence elections leading up to November 2016.
Contradictory Findings
Declassified documents show that, despite claims of Russian influence, there was ongoing skepticism within the intelligence community. A President’s Daily Brief from December 8, 2016, affirmed that there was no evidence that Russia’s actions would affect the elections, describing their activities as unlikely to undermine the election process meaningfully.
By January 6, 2017, new intelligence ratings were released, contradicting previous assessments, and leading some to question the integrity and politicization of those evaluations. Officials later stated that the Intelligence Community had misled the public about the impact of Russia’s activities.
In light of these developments, the Justice Department is currently looking into elements surrounding these intelligence assessments, with ongoing investigations focusing on potential conspiracies involving the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election.
