A newly-declassified House Intelligence Committee report alleges that the Obama-era intelligence assessment on Russian election meddling used the discredited Steele dossier to underpin its conclusion that Vladimir Putin aspired to help Donald Trump win the 2016 election, directly challenging the testimony of officials like CIA Director John Brennan who denied that had happened.
The report, released Thursday by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard after years of being locked away at the CIA, also alleges the December 2016 Intelligence Community Assessment "glossed over" evidence that Putin may have instead favored (or at least fully expected) a Hillary Clinton victory nine years ago.
"The judgment that Putin developed a 'clear preference' for candidate Trump and 'aspired to help his chances of victory' did not adhere to the tenets of the ICD (Intelligence Community Directive) analytical standards," the report found.
"The ICA ignored and selectively quoted reliable intelligence reports that challenged and in some cases undermined judgments that Putin sought to elect Trump," it added. "The ICA failed to consider plausible alternative explanations of Putin's intentions indicated by reliable intelligence and observed Russian actions."
