Inside the CIA Review: Flaws in 2016 Election Interference Assessment

A CIA review released on Wednesday spotlighted errors in the creation of a U.S. intelligence assessment, which claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed to influence the 2016 presidential election in favor of Donald Trump. The review upheld the assessment's conclusion but questioned the confidence level assigned by U.S. agencies.

The reevaluation didn't challenge the assessment's credibility or the foundational classified CIA report. However, it criticized the 'high confidence' level given by the CIA and FBI, arguing it should align with the 'moderate confidence' suggested by the U.S. National Security Agency. Former U.S. President Trump had previously dismissed these findings despite their release in January 2017.

The CIA's Directorate of Analysis highlighted 'multiple procedural anomalies' during the assessment's preparation, including a rushed timeline and excessive involvement from agency heads. The review aimed to promote transparency and objective analysis in future intelligence work, noting that procedural missteps affected the rigor of the most contentious conclusions.

(With inputs from agencies.)