Context:

Tulsi Gabbard, the current Director of National Intelligence, released a declassified email from former DNI James Clapper, implicating him in the orchestration of the Russiagate scandal. The email, dated December 22, 2016, was sent to key figures including former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey, aligning with directives from President Obama to create the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) on Russian interference. Gabbard claims this document reveals a deliberate compromise of intelligence standards and protocols, characterizing the creation of the ICA as a politically motivated endeavor. The email, which responded to concerns from NSA Director Mike Rogers, shows Clapper urging a collective effort to support the Russia investigation narrative despite insufficient intelligence access. The newly released information has not elicited a response from Clapper, despite requests for comment from media outlets such as Fox News Digital.

Dive Deeper:

• Tulsi Gabbard disclosed a declassified email from former DNI James Clapper, which she claims is pivotal in unraveling the origins of the Russiagate scandal, implicating high-ranking officials in misleading intelligence practices.

• The email, sent on December 22, 2016, was directed to influential intelligence figures, including John Brennan and James Comey, and was part of a compliance effort with President Obama's directive to frame a narrative on Russian interference in the 2016 election.

• Gabbard argues that the document highlights a significant breach of intelligence standards, as it reveals a coordinated effort to back a politically charged intelligence assessment, despite a lack of comprehensive review of the intelligence data.

• The email was a reaction to apprehensions raised by NSA Director Mike Rogers, who expressed that his team lacked adequate access to intelligence data and was not confident in the assessments being made.

• This disclosure raises questions about the integrity of the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment on Russia, suggesting that it was manufactured to support a predetermined narrative rather than being based on robust intelligence analysis.

• Gabbard's release aims to demonstrate how top officials allegedly deceived the American public by presenting a politicized intelligence narrative as credible, intensifying the scrutiny on the motivations behind the Russiagate investigation.

• Despite the serious implications of the email contents, James Clapper has not provided any public comment or response to the allegations following the document's declassification and release.