An investigative report by Emily Kopp details the actions of Nikki Floris, the lead of the FBI’s Foreign Interference Task Force, during the 2020 presidential election. New documents reveal that she attempted to suppress information regarding Chinese election interference, suggesting internal bureaucratic resistance within the FBI to address allegations of foreign meddling in U. S. elections.
1. Floris's Response to Election Security Tip:
● In September 2020, Floris expressed frustration over a tip regarding potential Chinese interference in the upcoming election.
● The intelligence reported that China may have issued fraudulent driver's licenses to produce illegal mail-in ballots for Joe Biden, but this tip was retracted without investigation.
2. Suppression of Intelligence:
● While attempting to retract the information, Floris instructed that all foreign election interference reports needed to be directed to her team, effectively managing the flow of information.
● There were concerns among FBI officials about contradicting FBI Director Christopher Wray’s previous statements claiming no evidence of widespread mail-in voter fraud.
3. Internal Communications:
● Some internal communications reveal Floris acknowledging a shadowy control over intelligence related to foreign interference.
● An unnamed FBI official remarked, “I am basically running a shadow government inside the FBI right now,” indicating a significant degree of influence over how information was handled.
4. Previous Claims of Russian Disinformation:
● In August 2020, about a month before the Chinese interference tip was suppressed, Floris briefed Senate Republicans, suggesting their report on Hunter Biden was a target of Russian disinformation.
● Following the briefing, the lack of evidence was noted, and it was suspected that the intent was to manipulate media perceptions.
5. Challenges to Investigations:
● The Albany Field Office attempted to pursue the tip but faced pushback, including warnings of potential elevation of issues to higher authorities.
● As the election approached, a draft of the suppressed tip was ultimately deleted in October 2020, just days before Election Day.
6. Concerns Over Political Implications:
● Some FBI officials expressed discomfort with the idea that political implications were influencing their obligation to investigate certain tips.
● There were discussions about how the tip could align with broader intelligence narratives, indicating the potential prioritization of political considerations over investigative thoroughness.
The uncovered documents and communications point to significant internal conflict within the FBI regarding foreign interference in the 2020 election. They raise serious questions about the FBI's commitment to investigating credible allegations of fraud and highlight how bureaucratic moves can potentially suppress critical information. The actions of Nikki Floris suggest a controlled environment where narratives were carefully managed to avoid contradicting public statements by senior officials, such as FBI Director Wray. The implications of this situation could have far-reaching consequences on public trust in governmental oversight of election security.
No comments:
Post a Comment