Former intelligence officials are calling for a congressional investigation into a declassified document released by former President Donald Trump, which they believe raises questions regarding its origin and purpose. The document, a CIA note titled 'Sensitive PRC Reporting from 2018 – 2020,' discusses alleged Chinese efforts to influence the 2020 election in favor of Trump. The officials are concerned that the document presents a one-sided view and lacks traditional accountability markers such as authorship and footnotes.
The Steady State, a group of former national security and intelligence officials, is advocating for an independent investigation by congressional committees and inspectors general. Steven Cash, executive director of The Steady State, highlighted anomalies in the document's style and format, suggesting it deviates from standard CIA practices. The White House and CIA have not provided details about the document's origin or production date, citing classification.
In a speech, Trump used the document to assert that China sought to undermine his presidency, a claim that has been met with skepticism from former intelligence officials who describe the document as raw and unverified intelligence. They emphasize the importance of integrity in intelligence reporting and the potential dangers of presenting uncorroborated information to the public.