A CIA review has identified procedural flaws in a 2016 assessment that Russia sought to help Donald Trump win the U.S. presidency, but it did not challenge the core conclusion that President Vladimir Putin directed the influence campaign.
The review, released on Wednesday, found that while the intelligence assessment suffered from “multiple procedural anomalies,” its core findings remained credible. It questioned the use of a “high confidence” rating by the CIA and FBI, suggesting a “moderate confidence” level—used by the National Security Agency—would have been more appropriate.
The December 2016 classified assessment concluded that Putin ordered a disinformation and cyber campaign aimed at swaying the U.S. election in Trump’s favour. That judgment has since been supported by a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report released in 2018.
However, the CIA’s Directorate of Analysis, which conducted the internal review, cited issues including a compressed timeline and “excessive involvement of agency heads” that led to deviations from standard analytic procedures. These factors, it said, undermined the application of rigorous tradecraft in forming the most contested conclusions.
The review was commissioned by former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, a Trump appointee, during his tenure as CIA director. According to a CIA statement, the aim was to “promote analytic objectivity and transparency.”
Trump has consistently rejected the intelligence community’s findings about Russian interference, frequently citing Putin’s denials. After meeting the Russian leader in 2017, he said he believed Putin’s assurances over the U.S. agencies’ conclusions.
The review did not challenge the existence or scope of the Russian influence effort, reaffirming that the CIA report used by analysts remained “quality and credible.” Nonetheless, the re-evaluation highlights longstanding concerns within the intelligence community about politicisation and methodological rigour in high-stakes assessments.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that the United States must recognise that the “rules of the game” i...
Russian President Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on efforts to end t...
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has left for France for a four-day visit aimed at strengthening ties with Paris, including a summit with Frenc...
An eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Anak Krakatau has disrupted air travel, school activities and fishing operations, with hundreds of passengers stranded at Jakarta’s main airport on Sunday.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia then Ukraine over the weekend, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citing an unnamed source. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also said American envoys will visit the capitals of both countries.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar with the matter said. They were met by Russian Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that the United States must recognise that the “rules of the game” in its war against Iran had changed “before it is too late”, a day after Washington struck several Iranian tankers in the Gulf.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on efforts to end the Ukraine war.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has left for France for a four-day visit aimed at strengthening ties with Paris, including a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Adidas is facing calls for a boycott after featuring former Israeli soldier Shalev Biton in a campaign for its Single Shoe Service, as critics question the choice against the backdrop of the Gaza war and thousands of life-changing injuries.
Two Greek military pilots were killed on Saturday when an F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed during an air show at Tanagra air base, north of Athens, officials said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on efforts to end the Ukraine war.
U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told reporters on Saturday that there is no plan underway to force Palestinians out of Gaza, following Israel's government proposal on relocation plans for people in Gaza.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment