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.
The death toll from Sunday’s powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has risen above 2,200, with search and rescue operations ongoing. Local offi...
Colton Herta, nine-time IndyCar race winner, is set to compete in Formula Two next year while also taking on a test driver role for Cadillac....
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans to propose updates to the certification process for new commercial aircraft, according t...
The United States has warned other countries that recognising a Palestinian state could lead to greater complications, U.S. Secretary of State Marco R...
The death toll from Sunday’s powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has risen above 2,200, with search and rescue operations ongoing. Local officials warn that many people remain trapped under rubble, and the number of fatalities is likely to climb further.
Colton Herta, nine-time IndyCar race winner, is set to compete in Formula Two next year while also taking on a test driver role for Cadillac.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans to propose updates to the certification process for new commercial aircraft, according to a notice released by the Trump administration on Thursday.
Rising concerns over the U.S. economy and ongoing tariff disputes have put global government bonds under selling pressure, experts say. Donald Trump’s push for interest-rate cuts, combined with a major spending bill, has shaken investor confidence, sending bond prices down while yields rise.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Thailand’s royal authority has blocked a move by acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai to dissolve parliament and call snap elections, citing legal concerns over his authority to submit such a request, local media reported on Wednesday.
More than 100,000 people are expected to take part in France’s “Block Everything” movement on 10 September, broadcaster France Info reported on Thursday. Energy, transport, and defence sectors are likely to be the most affected.
The death toll from Sunday’s powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has risen above 2,200, with search and rescue operations ongoing. Local officials warn that many people remain trapped under rubble, and the number of fatalities is likely to climb further.
Colton Herta, nine-time IndyCar race winner, is set to compete in Formula Two next year while also taking on a test driver role for Cadillac.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans to propose updates to the certification process for new commercial aircraft, according to a notice released by the Trump administration on Thursday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment