House Intelligence Committee Votes to Release Classified Intelligence on 2020 Election Disinformation Campaign

The House Intelligence Committee has voted to allow all House members to view classified intelligence that Democratic leaders provided to the FBI warning about a foreign disinformation campaign targeting the 2020 presidential election. The classified addendum, which was sent to the FBI last week, included concerns about a Russian-linked disinformation campaign to target former Vice President Joe Biden, including information from entities with ties to Russia being provided to Senate Homeland Security Chairman Ron Johnson.

Key Takeaways:

• The House Intelligence Committee voted to release classified intelligence on a foreign disinformation campaign targeting the 2020 presidential election, which was sent to the FBI by Democratic leaders.
• The classified addendum included concerns about a Russian-linked disinformation campaign to target Joe Biden, including information from entities with ties to Russia being provided to Senate Homeland Security Chairman Ron Johnson.
• The Intelligence Committee's decision was made behind closed doors, and the voting process was not publicly disclosed.
• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Mark Warner, and Schiff were part of the "Gang of Eight" that receives sensitive intelligence and sent a letter to the FBI last week urging a briefing to the full House and Senate.
• The letter warned about "a concerted foreign interference campaign which seeks to launder and amplify disinformation in order to influence congressional activity, public debate, and the presidential election in November."
• The top US counterintelligence official, Bill Evanina, issued a new warning about efforts by Russia, China, and Iran to interfere in the upcoming presidential election, which was criticized by congressional Democrats for not going far enough in arming the American people with knowledge.

Statistics:

• 100% of House members will now have access to the classified intelligence on the foreign disinformation campaign, following the Intelligence Committee's vote.
• The classified addendum was sent to the FBI by Democratic leaders last week, warning about a concerted foreign interference campaign.
• 4 Democratic congressional leaders (Pelosi, Schumer, Warner, and Schiff) sent a letter to the FBI last week urging a briefing to the full House and Senate.
• 3 countries (Russia, China, and Iran) are seeking to interfere in the American democratic process, according to the top US counterintelligence official.

Sources:

• CNN - "House Intelligence Committee votes to allow all House members to view classified intelligence on 2020 election disinformation campaign"
• CNN - "FBI faces criticism from Democrats for not briefing full Congress on foreign interference efforts"
• Statement from House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff
• Statement from Sen. Ron Johnson and Sen. Chuck Grassley
• Letter from Pelosi, Schumer, Warner, and Schiff to FBI Director Chris Wray
• Statement from the top US counterintelligence official, Bill Evanina