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

The April 26 Homeland Security inspector normal's assessment offers a damning look at the way in which DHS' Workplace of Intelligence and Analysis dealt with intelligence related to Russia's efforts to interfere in the US, stating the division had deviated from its standard procedures in modifying assessments related to Moscow's focusing on 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 instance of how his aides managed his aversion to any information about how Russia is likely to be helping his election prospects. In line with particular counsel Robert Mueller's report, Trump officers tried to avoid the subject during meetings and at hearings, because he would grow to be enraged and upset when Russian meddling came up.

The US intelligence group introduced in the course of the 2020 marketing campaign that Russia was actively meddling within 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 previous suspicions that Trump appointees distorted some intelligence reports to foster a extra Trump-friendly narrative.

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

"The delays and deviation from I&A's commonplace process and requirements put I&A susceptible to creating a notion of politicization. This conclusion is supported by I&A's personal tradecraft assessment, which decided that the product is likely to be seen as politicized," it continues.

The whistleblower claimed that Wolf had instructed DHS officers to "cease offering intelligence assessments on the threat of Russian interference" and, as an alternative, focus their efforts on gathering info associated 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 found, the DHS Intelligence and Analysis Office had followed internal drafting and editing processes. The report was two pages in size and associated to at least one "'current Democratic presidential candidate'" and to Russian actions to influence the presidential election. It developed over time after receiving inside input, in line with the IG report.

The IG also adopted 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 dangerous.'"

Based on notes of the meeting obtained by the IG, one high official wrote: "AS1 -- will harm POTUS -- kill it per his authorities." The official instructed the IG the notes meant the acting secretary had told him to carry the product as a result of it will damage Trump and the authorities cited had been in reference to those 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 in every of our state and local partners who can be reading this and I could not see the place the product, as written on July 8, would have added any worth or given them any information they may use. ... The product was not well written," the appearing secretary instructed the IG's workplace, based on the report.

The delays and disruptions, though, put the office at risk of creating the notion of politicization, the IG report states. The IG really helpful working with the Office of the Secretary and I&A oversight entities to ensure election-related reviews are in step with insurance policies and tips. I&A agreed with the advice.

CNN's Marshall Cohen contributed to this report.