Behind the Security Reports Alleging Russian Hacking

Flawed and 'politicized' intelligence makes its way to the world stage

CIA Director John Brennan testifies during a Senate Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on June 16, 2016. Evy Mages/Getty Images

When the U.S. intelligence community released two reports claiming that Russia had targeted the U.S. election with influence campaigns and cyberattacks, it sparked a maelstrom of debate over the legitimacy of the vote. According to a veteran of the intelligence community, however, the reports show a departure in how agencies typically verify information and appear to carry a political motive.

A close examination of the reports shows they are factually hollow, rely on filler content, and contain information that might sound impressive on the surface, but essentially describes run-of-the-mill intelligence operations conducted by many countries—the United States included.

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