ODNI Ratcliffe cancels in person briefings to Schiff committee.
The move met harsh criticism from the Democrats, with US Speaker of the Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff denouncing the withdrawal as “a shocking abdication of its lawful responsibility to keep the Congress currently informed”.
The director of National Intelligence, John Ratcliffe, sent a letter to the House and the Senate, notifying that his office will no longer provide full in-person briefings on possible foreign interference in the upcoming presidential election. Instead, the office will switch to “written finished intelligence products” over concerns of information leaks.
“I believe this approach helps ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that the information ODNI provides the Congress in support of your oversight responsibilities on elections security, foreign malign influence, and election interference is not misunderstood nor politicized. It will also better protect our sources and methods and most sensitive intelligence from additional unauthorized disclosures or misuse”, read the letter, posted by The Hill.
The change comes as the office is concerned about “unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information following recent briefings”, according to an ODNI official, cited by Fox News.
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