Hiding the Truth

For John, BLUF:  China was playing in the 2020 Election and Bureaucrats hid it from the public.  However, this is not the smoking gun in the Trump loss.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Intelligence analysts downplayed Chinese election influence to avoid supporting Trump policies, inspector finds

From The Washington Examiner, by Justice Department Reporter Jerry Dunleavy, 7 January 2021, 02:21 PM.

Here is the lede plus one:

Politicization problems exist in U.S. spy agency assessments on foreign influence in the 2020 U.S. election, including analysts who appeared to hold back information on Chinese meddling efforts because they disagreed with the Trump administration's policies, according to an intelligence community inspector.

Barry Zulauf, an analytic ombudsman and longtime intelligence official, issued a 14-page report obtained by the Washington Examiner to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, revealing his investigation was “conducted in response to IC complaints regarding the election threat issue."  In addition, he lamented the “polarized atmosphere has threatened to undermine the foundations of our Republic, penetrating even into the Intelligence Community.”

This isn't a big thing, a big smoking gun.  Those who wanted to know about China knew about China on Election Day.  Those who sought ignorance achieved ignorance.  But, it is another sign that the Bureaucracy does its own thing and is often unmoored from the elected government.  How does that make you feel?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff