Thread by @SusanKBradford

DHS watchdog says Trump's agency appears to have altered report on Russian interference in 2020 election in part because of politics - CNNPolitics cnn.com/2022/05/03/pol…

2/another reason for the #wagthedog news cycle LEAK ?

TFG’s DHS delayed & ALTERED an intel report related to Russian interference in the 2020 election, making changes that "appear to be based in part on political considerations," according to a newly released watchdog report.

3/DHS IG's assessment provides a damning look at the way DHS' Office of Intel & Analysis dealt w intel related to 🇷🇺efforts to interfere in US, stating DHS had deviated from its standard procedures in modifying assessments related to Moscow's targeting of the 2020 presidential 🗳

4/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 information about how Russia might be helping his election prospects.

#PutinsPuppet

5/Quite the same way #BillBarr down played the #MuellerReport

According to special counsel Robert Mueller's report, TFG officials tried to avoid the topic during meetings & at hearings, bec he would become enraged & upset when Russian meddling came up.

#TrumpIsARussianAsset

6/The US intel community announced during the 2020 campaign that 🇷🇺 was actively meddling in the election to weaken then-candidate Joe Biden. At the time, TFG downplayed those findings & promoted false claims abt Biden that aligned w 🇷🇺's disinfo efforts.

7/The IG report addresses past suspicions that Trump appointees distorted some intel reports to foster a more Trump-friendly narrative.

#TheMoreYouKnow @maddow @AliVelshi

8/The watchdog found that then-acting DHS Sec Chad Wolf had participated in the review process "multiple xs despite lacking any formal role n reviewing the product," which caused delays & may have helped create "perception" that assessments were changed for political reasons

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

#theyallknew

10/"The delays and deviation from I&A's standard process and requirements put I&A at risk of creating a perception of politicization. This conclusion is supported by I&A's own tradecraft assessment, which determined that the product might be viewed as politicized," it continues.

11/The report stems from previous allegations of TFG admin downplaying Russian interference. Whistleblower complaint alleged top political appointees n DHS repeatedly instructed career officials to modify intel assessmnts to suit TFG's agenda by downply’g 🇷🇺's efforts 2 interfere

12/The whistleblower claimed that Wolf had instructed DHS officials to "cease providing intel assessments on the threat of 🇷🇺 interference" &, instead, focus their efforts on gathering info related to activities being carried out by 🇨🇳 & 🇮🇷.

13/I’m feeling like we’ve heard this before?

The scope of the DHS IG report was limited to the single intel report in question. Didn’t Mueller limit his scope, too?

Initially, the IG found, DHS Intel & Analysis Office had followed internal drafting & editing processes.

14/The report was 2 pages in length & related to 1 "'current Democratic presidential candidate'" & to 🇷🇺 activities to influence the presidential election. It evolved over time after receiving internal input, according to the IG report.

15/IG also followed up on a July 2020 mtg mentioned by whistleblower, who claimed Wolf had asked 4 the product to be held bec "'it made the POTUS look bad.'" According to mtg notes obtained by the IG, 1 top official wrote: "AS1 -- will hurt POTUS -- kill it per his authorities."

16/The official told IG the notes meant acting secretary had told him to hold the product bec it would hurt TFG & the authorities cited were in ref to those possessed by the sec. IG's office interviewed Wolf, who denied saying this & added he had asked for the product 2b improved

17/"I tried to put myself in the position of 1 of our state & local partners who wld be reading this & I could not see where the product, as written on July 8, wld have added any value or given them any knowledge they could use. ...

So in other words..he 🤥 🤥 🤥 #CorruptGOP

18/The product was not well written," the acting secretary told the IG's office. The delays & disruptions, tho, put the office at risk of creating the perception of politicization, the IG report states.

Another coverup on behalf of TFG #ETTD

19/The IG recommended working w the Office of the Sec & I&A oversight entities to make sure election-related reports are in line with policies and guidelines. I&A agreed with the recommendation.

/end