DNI Ratcliffe accuses Democrats of creating misleading intelligence document

Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe is accusing congressional Democrats of creating a misleading classified document sent to FBI Director Christopher Wray, saying it pulled "selectively" from reports and failed to adequately represent the intelligence community's viewpoint.

The memo was a classified addendum attached to a July 13 letter that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff and Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner sent the FBI director concerning foreign interference in the November elections

In a letter to Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson that was released this week, Ratcliffe said U.S. intelligence did not create or authorize the addendum contained in the Democrats' letter.

"In response to your specific questions, I can confirm the IC did not create the classified addendum to the 13 July letter, nor did we authorize its creation. The IC was not consulted prior to its creation and subsequent release to the entire membership of the U.S. House of Representatives," Ratcliffe wrote. 

"Unfortunately, this addendum only draws selectively from a small number of IC reports and focuses on only one threat actor in the elections security space. In summary, the classified addendum apparently prepared by the aforementioned individuals, by no means reflects the full and complete analysis of the IC," Ratcliffe explained.

Grassley and Johnson wrote in an Aug. 4 letter to Pelosi, Schumer, Schiff and Warner, that they were concerned that information in the Democrats' July 13 letter and addendum had leaked to the media.

"I share you concerns about intelligence information being described in the press," Ratcliffe wrote the two Republican senators. "As you know, any mention of classified materials in the public domain jeopardizes our sources and methods, and undermines the critical work of the Intelligence Community (IC) to protect our nation."