Trump administration declassified additional documents related to the origins of the Russiagate investigation, marking a significant development in the ongoing review of alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced the release, which included a 46-page report authored by former Representative Devin Nunes. This report critiques the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), asserting that the process involved procedural anomalies and included unverified information about alleged ties between Russia and then-candidate Donald Trump. The document highlights that CIA Director John Brennan received warnings from intelligence professionals against including unfounded Trump-Putin allegations, yet the claims proceeded. Concurrently, CIA Director John Ratcliffe sent a criminal referral to the FBI regarding Brennan’s actions, based on a ”lessons learned” review of the ICA’s creation. The review noted that the assessment was rushed and deviated from standard intelligence practices, though it upheld the finding that Russia intended to undermine U.S. democracy. Additionally, Attorney General Pam Bondi formed a Justice Department ”strike force” to evaluate the newly declassified materials for potential legal actions. The documents also reference interviews from 2017 and 2018 with former Obama administration officials, including James Clapper, who stated they saw no direct evidence of Trump campaign collusion with Russia. This aligns with the Mueller Report’s 2019 conclusion of insufficient evidence for criminal conspiracy charges. The release has sparked discussions, with further declassifications, including a Durham Annex, anticipated within the week. The administration frames this as a step toward transparency, with ongoing efforts to address the investigation’s origins.
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