In July, ODNI declassified and released 2017 HPSCI(Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence) Majority staff report regarding "Russia's Influence Campaign Targeting the 2016 US Presidential Election". Below is the link to ODNI press release:
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President Obama directed the creation of this January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment after President Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, and it served as the basis for what was essentially a years-long coup against the duly elected President of the United States, subverting the will of the American people and attempting to delegitimize Donald Trump’s presidency.
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The declassified 46-page report in PDF format can be downloaded via the link below:
I'm archiving its text to make it searchable here. This is part 6.
Finding #4: The ICA Excluded Significant Intelligence That Contradicted Its Judgments That Putin Aspired to Help Trump Win
ICD 203 also instructs that intelligence analysts "must perform their functions with objectivity" and that judgments "must consider alternative perspectives and contrary information." It further directs that "analysis should be informed by all relevant information available" (emphasis added).
The ICA selectively omitted quotes from key HUMINT and SIGINT reports that contradicted the judgments on Putin's intentions while, conversely, it included quotes - from those same HUMINT and SIGINT reports - that supported the ICA thesis. This was done multiple times, to include citations of two foundational sources for the ICA.
This cherry picking of reports is an important indicator for evaluating ICA tradecraft. By selectively quoting a report repeatedly, the authors both demonstrated their regard for the value of the source, while simultaneously providing evidence of disregard for ICD 203 criteria on objectivity and consideration of contrary information.
ICA Selectively Quoted a Key Report That Contradicted Judgments on Putin's Intentions. Although the ICA quoted the reliable report four times, it omitted the most critical element of the report that strongly conflicted with the ICA major judgments on Putin's intentions.(redacted)
(redacted) Missing from the ICA was significant intelligence that (redacted), a longtime Putin confidant, told a sensitive contact (redacted) that:
(redacted) "Putin told him he did not care who won the election";
(redacted) "Putin had often outlined the weaknesses of both major candidates."
(redacted) Putin asserted that, in either case, "Russia was strategically placed to outmaneuver either one."(redacted)
(redacted) Putin's ambivalence about the two candidates is further supported by (redacted) - also omitted from the ICA - (redacted). Putin's (redacted) made no positive mention of Trump. Instead, it revealed his pessimism that neither Trump nor Clinton would be able to correct the strained relationship. Although he indicated that there could be opportunities to gradually improve relations, he made clear that he didn't have a preference for either candidate, (redacted).105
(redacted) Reinforcing his ambivalence about the two candidates, Putin was pessimistic that either one could overcome strong anti-Russian political sentiment in Washington in the near term, but seemed willing to work with either Clinton or Trump, noting that, "regardless of the election's outcome" there could be room to "gradually rid the bilateral dialogue of irritants."(redacted)
(redacted) This theme was echoed by (redacted), who noted that, "Regardless of who wins the election, Russia will be able to begin a fresh dialogue with the new administration" and that "Russia is in a stronger position than 8 years ago."(redacted)
(redacted) A Russian (redacted) said Russia was planning for candidate Clinton's victory because "they knew where [she] stood and despite media stories, Russia could work with her", according to (redacted) a "collaborative source with excellent access" but whose reporting had not been corroborated.(redacted)
(redacted) A preoccupation of Russian officials and analysts was that neither Trump nor Clinton would respect Russia's strategic interests or treat Russia as an equal on the world stage, and it would take years to repair the relationship, (redacted).
(redacted) A (redacted) report (redacted) warned that, "regardless of the party affiliation" of the next President, the US would "not view Russia as an equal partner."(redacted)
(redacted) Putin's (redacted) cautioned, "Russia understands that it should not labor under the illusion that relations will get better soon after the November US Presidential election" and that it is "unlikely [Trump] will be able to take steps to correct relations."(redacted)
(redacted) Putin's top USA experts echoed that view, noting it would take years for Trump or Clinton to fix the relationship.(redacted)