Obama-era officials allegedly sidelined intel on Clinton

The disclosure of newly declassified records has cast a spotlight on the actions of intelligence officials during Barack Obama's presidency, revealing lapses in transparency during the 2016 election campaign.

According to the Washington Examiner, the documents indicate that while there was a pronounced focus on purported Russian efforts to favor Donald Trump, damaging information about Hillary Clinton's health possessed by Russia was omitted from intelligence reports.

On Wednesday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard unveiled a once-classified report from the House Intelligence Committee. The report, dated September 18, 2020, details how Russian intelligence accessed Democratic National Committee (DNC) communications referencing Clinton's health during the 2016 race. Despite the potentially explosive nature of the details, they were not reflected in the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment. Instead, the assessment primarily underscored Russia's intentions to bolster Trump by undermining Clinton.

Declassified Report Highlights Significant Omissions

The core of the revelations lies in the specifics about Clinton's health, with Russian intelligence purportedly uncovering a range of health concerns. Allegations suggested she was on significant medications and faced psycho-emotional challenges. Furthermore, reports indicated chronic illnesses including type 2 diabetes and ischemic heart disease. These details, however, were not introduced into the public or official portrayals by those handling intelligence under Obama.

According to the report, Russia's intelligence assets described Clinton as driven by an intense desire for power and showing emotional volatility. Despite these insights, the key narratives pushed in 2017 pointed primarily toward Russia's attempts to favor Trump, omitting potentially counter-narrative elements.

This selective reporting, as suggested by the declassified documents finalized under former Republican Rep. Devin Nunes, highlights a potential bias in portraying events of the 2016 campaign.

Context of Intelligence Assessments

The omissions gain significance against the backdrop of the broader narrative that Russia's main strategy was to shame Clinton, thereby aiding Trump. Critics of the predominant Trump-Russia theory argue that had Russia truly been committed to supporting Trump, they would have publicized Clinton's health issues when her campaign showed signs of vulnerability.

In the final weeks before the election, Clinton's lead in polls was diminishing. Observers like Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, noted the disparity between the available damaging information on Clinton and what was actually released. Kirk questioned why these details weren't made public in October 2016, during a critical juncture in the campaign.

The declassified report contends, “[I]t is difficult to justify” the decision to exclude references to Clinton's health from assessments, especially when Putin chose not to leak this material despite its potential influence.

Impact of Clinton's Health on the Campaign

Public concern over Clinton's health during the campaign was not entirely without basis, as she had previously faced scrutiny over incidents such as her near collapse at a September 2016 9/11 memorial event, which was later attributed to pneumonia. The disclosure of such health concerns by Russian agencies, therefore, would likely have compounded public fears.

Additionally, Russia reportedly intercepted an email detailing Clinton's campaign strategy to associate Trump with Russian operatives, adding another layer of complexity to the intelligence puzzle. This strategy itself was absent from the narratives advanced at the time.

This brings to light questions about the selective presentation of the intelligence community's findings and posits whether holistic transparency was sacrificed in favor of perpetrating specific narratives.

Questions of Narrative Integrity

Despite the damaging revelations within the declassified report, the overarching narrative that emerged from the 2016 intelligence assessments largely remained focused on Russian ambitions to support Trump.

As critics reflect on the integrity of the narrative crafted during the election, questions linger about the omission of significant counterpoints like those related to Clinton's health. Such omissions are pivotal as they challenge the dominant understanding of Russian involvement.

These revelations could trigger a reevaluation of the intelligence landscape during the 2016 election, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive narratives in the interpretation and dissemination of intelligence assessments.

By illuminating these gaps, the declassified documents not only expose past oversights but also urge the consideration of more balanced assessments in future intelligence practices.