A redacted 4–23 November 2020 email chain among NSA and DNI personnel discusses wording and dissemination of reporting for a President’s Daily Brief item and the China section of the 45-day election-threat Intelligence Community Assessment.
An NSA strategic intelligence analyst wrote that one pending PDB item had been deliberately reworded to avoid direct links to the election. The email records an editorial choice by the sender; it does not include the PDB itself or establish the reason for that choice.
“We have deliberately massaged our one pending PDB to avoid any direct links to the election.”
The same analyst said a large awaited report had been split into 13 reports, expected the following week, and that many or all would be cross-posted or downgraded so they could be incorporated into the 45-day product if needed.
“The massive report we have been waiting on has been chopped up into 13 reports that likely will not get out until late next week.”
“so that can be more readily incorporated into the 45-day piece, if needed.”
A 23 November correspondent described two related issues, expressed concern about analysis being “deliberately massaged” away from elections, and sought a check on whether the relevant NIOs were progressing toward the 30 November ICA draft date. This is the correspondent’s concern and process request, not a final intelligence judgment.
“I would be concerned as to why they are “deliberately massaging” analysis away from elections”
“if they are making progress toward the 30 November date on the ICA draft”