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

The April 26 Homeland Security inspector normal's evaluation provides a damning 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 division had deviated from its normal procedures in modifying assessments related 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 most recent instance of how his aides managed his aversion to any information about how Russia might be helping his election prospects. In line with particular counsel Robert Mueller's report, Trump officials tried to avoid the subject during meetings and at hearings, because he would grow to be enraged and upset when Russian meddling got here up.

The US intelligence group introduced through the 2020 campaign that Russia was actively meddling within the election to weaken then-candidate Joe Biden. On the time, Trump downplayed those 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 determined that the Performing Secretary's involvement led to the rare incidence of I&A ceasing dissemination of a product after it had already been permitted by the mission manager and circulated via superior notification," the report states.

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

The whistleblower claimed that Wolf had instructed DHS officials to "cease offering intelligence assessments on the threat of Russian interference" and, as an alternative, focus their efforts on gathering information related to actions being carried out by China and Iran.

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

Initially, the IG discovered, the DHS Intelligence and Analysis Office had followed inner drafting and modifying processes. The report was two pages in length and associated to one "'present Democratic presidential candidate'" and to Russian activities to affect the presidential election. It advanced over time after receiving internal enter, in accordance with the IG report.

The IG also adopted up on a July 2020 assembly mentioned 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 meeting obtained by the IG, one top official wrote: "AS1 -- will harm POTUS -- kill it per his authorities." The official told the IG the notes meant the appearing secretary had told him to hold the product as a result of it could hurt Trump and the authorities cited have been in reference to these possessed by the secretary.

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

"I tried to put myself within the position of certainly one of our state and local companions who could be studying this and I could not see where the product, as written on July 8, would have added any value or given them any information they could use. ... The product was not properly written," the acting secretary instructed the IG's office, in accordance with the report.

The delays and disruptions, though, put the office vulnerable to creating the perception of politicization, the IG report states. The IG beneficial working with the Office of the Secretary and I&A oversight entities to make sure election-related reports are in keeping with policies and tips. I&A agreed with the recommendation.

CNN's Marshall Cohen contributed to this report.