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

The April 26 Homeland Safety inspector general's evaluation provides a damning take a look at the way in which DHS' Office of Intelligence and Evaluation handled intelligence associated to Russia's efforts to interfere in the US, stating the department had deviated from its normal procedures in modifying assessments associated to Moscow's targeting 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 example of how his aides managed his aversion to any information about how Russia is perhaps helping his election prospects. In response to special counsel Robert Mueller's report, Trump officials tried to avoid the subject during conferences and at hearings, because he would turn out to be enraged and upset when Russian meddling came up.

The US intelligence community introduced throughout 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 extra 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 approved by the mission manager and circulated via advanced notification," the report states.

"The delays and deviation from I&A's commonplace course of and requirements put I&A vulnerable to making a perception of politicization. This conclusion is supported by I&A's personal tradecraft assessment, which determined that the product is likely to 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, as an alternative, focus their efforts on gathering data associated to activities being carried out by China and Iran.

The scope of the DHS IG report was restricted to the one intelligence report in question.

Initially, the IG found, the DHS Intelligence and Evaluation Office had followed internal drafting and enhancing processes. The report was two pages in length and related to one "'current Democratic presidential candidate'" and to Russian actions to affect the presidential election. It developed over time after receiving inside input, in keeping with the IG report.

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

In line with notes of the assembly obtained by the IG, one prime official wrote: "AS1 -- will harm POTUS -- kill it per his authorities." The official informed the IG the notes meant the appearing secretary had instructed him to hold the product because it might hurt Trump and the authorities cited had been in reference to these possessed by the secretary.

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

"I attempted to place myself in the place of certainly one of our state and local companions who could 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 information they might use. ... The product was not well written," the performing secretary informed the IG's office, in line with the report.

The delays and disruptions, although, put the office at risk of creating the perception of politicization, the IG report states. The IG advisable working with the Office of the Secretary and I&A oversight entities to ensure election-related reports are in line with policies and guidelines. I&A agreed with the recommendation.

CNN's Marshall Cohen contributed to this report.