The CIA is filtering which intelligence involving Russia is seen by President Donald Trump, an effort that involves agency Director Gina Haspel.
Politico reported that CIA officials are limiting how much information about America's Cold War foe — including intelligence about Russia's disinformation efforts around the U.S. presidential election — makes it to the Oval Office. Part of the reasoning, according to the report, is that Trump is highly sensitive — and sometimes critical — of anything Russia-related.
Haspel has even stepped in to screen some of the intelligence, Politico noted.
CIA spokesman Timothy Barrett told Politico, "Scrutinizing intelligence product and process is exactly what is expected of Director Haspel not only because it's her job, it's her life's work — developing sources, vetting information, and checking assumptions — it's in her blood. She rightfully asks difficult questions and ensures intelligence is corroborated, double-checked, and then run through the wringer once more. Any suggestion of a political motive for how she leads this agency is misguided."
Haspel joined the CIA in 1985, and, after holding several high-ranking positions, Trump tapped her to be director in 2018. The Senate confirmed the appointment in May of that year.
According to Politico, Haspel has become critical of Russia intelligence as well, including when she "completely dismissed" analysts' conclusions that Russia may be tied to U.S. diplomats experiencing unexplained brain trauma in Cuba and China.
"She had a very defensive reaction, reacted very poorly, and made some comments about needing to clean out Russia House," one U.S. official told Politico.
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