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 Safety inspector general's assessment gives a damning take a look at the best way DHS' Office of Intelligence and Analysis handled intelligence related to Russia's efforts to intrude within the US, stating the division had deviated from its commonplace 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 example of how his aides managed his aversion to any details about how Russia is perhaps helping his election prospects. According to particular counsel Robert Mueller's report, Trump officials tried to keep away from the subject during meetings and at hearings, because he would change into enraged and upset when Russian meddling came up.

The US intelligence group announced through the 2020 marketing 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 reviews to foster a more Trump-friendly narrative.

"We determined that the Appearing Secretary's involvement led to the uncommon prevalence of I&A ceasing dissemination of a product after it had already been accepted by the mission manager and circulated through advanced notification," the report states.

"The delays and deviation from I&A's customary course of and requirements put I&A susceptible to making a notion of politicization. This conclusion is supported by I&A's personal tradecraft evaluation, which determined that the product is perhaps considered as politicized," it continues.

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

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

Initially, the IG discovered, the DHS Intelligence and Evaluation Office had adopted inside drafting and enhancing processes. The report was two pages in size and related to at least one "'current Democratic presidential candidate'" and to Russian activities to influence the presidential election. It advanced over time after receiving internal input, in line with the IG report.

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

In accordance with notes of the assembly obtained by the IG, one prime official wrote: "AS1 -- will damage POTUS -- kill it per his authorities." The official informed the IG the notes meant the performing secretary had advised him to hold the product because it might harm Trump and the authorities cited had been in reference to these 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 place myself within the place of one of our state and local partners who can be reading this and I could not see where the product, as written on July 8, would have added any value or given them any knowledge they could use. ... The product was not effectively written," the acting secretary advised the IG's workplace, based on the report.

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

CNN's Marshall Cohen contributed to this report.