Thread by @Olivia_Gazis

ODNI has informed the House & Senate Intel committees it will cease providing in-person briefings on election security and that future updates will be offered in writing, per two officials familiar with the matter. Comes at the direction of DNI Ratcliffe.

Confirming @jaketapper

An ODNI official says the move to providing “primarily” written briefings is “in the interest of clarity and protecting sensitive intelligence from unauthorized disclosures,” which ODNI said occurred “following recent briefings to Congress.”

“DNI Ratcliffe is committed to ensuring Congress is fully and currently informed and that classified information is protected,” the official said.

This official would not confirm whether political campaigns would continue to receive in-person updates from ODNI, and was not aware of any discussion of virtual updates. ODNI referred to DOJ and FBI to confirm whether their briefings would continue to be delivered in person.

Reminder that Bill Evanina was tasked in May with delivering all intelligence-based briefings - alongside FBI/DHS - to relevant stakeholders. That change was cast at the time as “an improvement and simplification to the threat notification process.”

dni.gov/index.php/news…

Statement from Pelosi & Schiff calls ODNI’s move a “shocking abdication” of its responsibilities and accuses the administration of engaging in a “politicized effort to withhold election-related information from Congress and the American people.”

DNI Ratcliffe’s letter to lawmakers says, of written updates, “I believe this approach helps ensure...the information ODNI provides...is not misunderstood nor politicized” & prevents its “misuse.”

Multiple congressional officials say they didn’t receive this letter, dated Aug 28

A bipartisan Rubio/Warner statement eludes the Senate Intel Committee, which had for years managed to, much of the time, speak in one voice.

Vice Chair Warner called Ratcliffe’s move “outrageous” & an “unprecedented attempt to politicize an issue...that should be non-partisan”

Acting Chair Rubio’s statement says congressional oversight of the IC faces an “historic crisis” and calls alleged leaks by members of Congress “grotesque criminal misconduct.”

He says Ratcliffe agreed to continue briefings, including on election security, for SSCI.