House Democrats are livid after the Director of National Intelligence, John Ratcliffe, announced that US intel agencies would be pulling the plug on in-person congressional briefings on election security, and will instead be providing written updates ahead of November.
"The ODNI will primarily meet its obligation to keep Congress fully and currently informed leading into the Presidential election through written finished intelligence products," read the letters, which were obtained by The Hill.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff railed against the move, suggesting that it would help conceal public knowledge of foreign interference in US politics.
Pelosi and Schiff threatened that they will "Consider the full range of tools available to the House to compel compliance" if the ODNI does not resume briefings, claiming it is a "Shameful" attempt by the Trump administration to "Withhold election-related information from Congress and the American people at the precise moment that greater transparency and accountability is required."
CNN first reported the shift from in-person briefings to written updates.
Former acting Director of National Intelligence, Richard Grenell, welcomed the move - tweeting on Saturday: "Career intelligence officials came to me to say they didn't want to brief the Hill because the partial information leaks and manipulation of their words were detrimental to their careers," adding "This is a very good reform."
Career intelligence officials came to me to say they didn't want to brief the Hill because the partial information leaks and manipulation of their words were detrimental to their careers.
Sunday, August 30, 2020
Schiff, Pelosi Livid After Intel Community Ditches 'Manipulated' Election Briefings For Written Updates
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