DHS watchdog says Trump’s company seems to have altered report on Russian interference in 2020 election partly because of politics

The April 26 Homeland Security inspector basic's assessment supplies a damning look at the way DHS' Office of Intelligence and Evaluation handled intelligence related to Russia's efforts to intrude within the US, stating the department had deviated from its standard 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 most recent instance of how his aides managed his aversion to any details about how Russia may be helping his election prospects. In accordance with particular counsel Robert Mueller's report, Trump officers tried to keep away from the topic throughout meetings and at hearings, because he would become enraged and upset when Russian meddling came up.

The US intelligence community announced through the 2020 marketing campaign that Russia was actively meddling within the election to weaken then-candidate Joe Biden. At the time, Trump downplayed those findings and promoted false claims about Biden that aligned with Russia's disinformation efforts. The IG report addresses previous suspicions that Trump appointees distorted some intelligence stories to foster a more Trump-friendly narrative.

"We decided 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 by way of superior notification," the report states.

"The delays and deviation from I&A's standard process and requirements put I&A susceptible to creating a perception of politicization. This conclusion is supported by I&A's personal tradecraft assessment, which determined that the product is perhaps seen as politicized," it continues.

The whistleblower claimed that Wolf had instructed DHS officers to "stop providing intelligence assessments on the threat of Russian interference" and, as a substitute, focus their efforts on gathering data associated to activities 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 Office had followed internal drafting and enhancing processes. The report was two pages in length and related to one "'present Democratic presidential candidate'" and to Russian actions to influence the presidential election. It developed over time after receiving inside input, in accordance with the IG report.

The IG additionally followed up on a July 2020 assembly mentioned by the whistleblower, who claimed Wolf had requested for the product to be held as a result of "'it made the President look unhealthy.'"

In keeping with notes of the meeting obtained by the IG, one high official wrote: "AS1 -- will harm POTUS -- kill it per his authorities." The official told the IG the notes meant the appearing secretary had told him to hold the product as a result of it could hurt Trump and the authorities cited were in reference to those possessed by the secretary.

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

"I attempted to put myself within the place of one among our state and native companions who can be reading this and I couldn't see where the product, as written on July 8, would have added any worth or given them any knowledge they might use. ... The product was not well written," the performing secretary instructed the IG's workplace, in response to the report.

The delays and disruptions, though, put the workplace liable to creating the perception of politicization, the IG report states. The IG advisable working with the Workplace of the Secretary and I&A oversight entities to verify election-related reviews are consistent with insurance policies and tips. I&A agreed with the recommendation.

CNN's Marshall Cohen contributed to this report.