Declassified emails released Wednesday show former DNI James Clapper overriding NSA objections to push the narrative that Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to help Donald Trump in the 2016 election.
The emails focus on the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), which evaluated Russian election interference and fueled years of media attention during Trump’s first term. NSA Director Mike Rogers expressed concern over the rushed timeline, compartmentalized intelligence, and limited access for analysts to verify key data.
“I’ve just returned from a TYD overseas and been updated on the current status of our efforts to produce a joint product related to Russian attribution and intent for the DNC/DCCC hacks… I’m concerned that, given the expedited nature of this activity, my folks aren’t fully comfortable saying that we’ve had enough time to review all of the intelligence to be absolutely confident in their assessments,” Rogers wrote in a Dec. 22, 2016, email.
Rogers also insisted that, as a co-author, the NSA should see all sensitive evidence underpinning the conclusions.
Clapper responded by stressing unity and speed over full review. “It is essential that we (CIA/NSA/FBI/ODNI) be on the same page and are supportive of the report — in the highest tradition of ‘that’s OUR story, and we’re sticking to it,’” he wrote. “More time is not negotiable… This is one project that has to be a team sport.”
Though the ICA was formally endorsed by the CIA, FBI, and NSA, only five CIA analysts under Director John Brennan actually wrote the report. They produced the assessment in less than a week before Christmas, working with limited access to raw intelligence, which Brennan restricted until a two-day review using hard copies circulated between Langley, Washington, and Fort Meade.
This batch of emails marks the fourth tranche declassified by DNI Gabbard in connection with the Russiagate saga.
