DHS watchdog says Trump’s agency appears to have altered report on Russian interference in 2020 election partly due to politics

The April 26 Homeland Security inspector general's evaluation supplies a damning take a look at the way in which DHS' Office of Intelligence and Analysis dealt with intelligence related to Russia's efforts to intervene within the US, stating the department had deviated from its normal procedures in modifying assessments related to Moscow's concentrating 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 latest instance of how his aides managed his aversion to any information about how Russia could be serving to his election prospects. In response to special counsel Robert Mueller's report, Trump officers tried to keep away from the subject during conferences and at hearings, as a result of he would develop into enraged and upset when Russian meddling came up.

The US intelligence neighborhood introduced during the 2020 campaign that Russia was actively meddling in the election to weaken then-candidate Joe Biden. On the time, Trump downplayed these findings and promoted false claims about Biden that aligned with Russia's disinformation efforts. The IG report addresses past 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 uncommon prevalence of I&A ceasing dissemination of a product after it had already been authorized by the mission manager and circulated by way of superior notification," the report states.

"The delays and deviation from I&A's customary process and requirements put I&A prone to making a notion of politicization. This conclusion is supported by I&A's own tradecraft assessment, which determined that the product might be viewed as politicized," it continues.

The whistleblower claimed that Wolf had instructed DHS officers to "cease providing intelligence assessments on the specter of Russian interference" and, instead, focus their efforts on gathering info associated to activities being carried out by China and Iran.

The scope of the DHS IG report was limited to the single intelligence report in query.

Initially, the IG discovered, the DHS Intelligence and Analysis Workplace had adopted inner drafting and enhancing processes. The report was two pages in size and associated to one "'present Democratic presidential candidate'" and to Russian activities to influence the presidential election. It advanced over time after receiving inner input, based on the IG report.

The IG also followed up on a July 2020 meeting mentioned by the whistleblower, who claimed Wolf had asked for the product to be held because "'it made the President look unhealthy.'"

Based on notes of the meeting obtained by the IG, one prime official wrote: "AS1 -- will hurt POTUS -- kill it per his authorities." The official instructed the IG the notes meant the acting secretary had advised him to hold the product because it could damage Trump and the authorities cited had been in reference to those possessed by the secretary.

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

"I attempted to put myself within the place of one of our state and native companions who would be studying 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 could use. ... The product was not well written," the performing secretary instructed the IG's workplace, in accordance with the report.

The delays and disruptions, although, put the office at risk of creating the notion of politicization, the IG report states. The IG really helpful working with the Workplace of the Secretary and I&A oversight entities to verify election-related stories are in line with policies and guidelines. I&A agreed with the advice.

CNN's Marshall Cohen contributed to this report.