Changes

As of December 5, 2016, the [[Obama administration]] said nothing about an attempt by Moscow to influence the election in favor of Trump. However, four days later on December 9, Adam Entous, Ellen Nakashima, and Greg Miller of the ''Washington Post'' reported that Brennan's CIA concluded a new assessment that Russia intervened in the [[2016 U.S. presidential election]] to help Trump. Obama ordered a full presentation in 30 days.

As of December 5, 2016, the [[Obama administration]] said nothing about an attempt by Moscow to influence the election in favor of Trump. However, four days later on December 9, Adam Entous, Ellen Nakashima, and Greg Miller of the ''Washington Post'' reported that Brennan's CIA concluded a new assessment that Russia intervened in the [[2016 U.S. presidential election]] to help Trump. Obama ordered a full presentation in 30 days.

In reviewing various [[leak]]s before and after the November 8, 2016 election, a trend becomes evident: prior to the election, leaks of classified information focused on Russia's attempts to sow discord with the U.S. presidential election. Leaks after the election focused on an alleged desire of Russia for Trump to win, rather than for the sole purpose of undermining confidence in the U.S. electoral system.<ref>''Russian Active Measures'', March 22, 2018, pp. 101-110.</ref> Leftist media hysterically reported that Russians stole the election by hacking voting machines, and Putin stuffed the ballot box for Donald Trump.<ref>http://amp.gothamist.com/amp/articles/create?article_id=582de55bada6e2220e4d68f4 </ref>

In reviewing various [[leak]]s before and after the November 8, 2016 election, a trend becomes evident: prior to the election, leaks of classified information focused on Russia's attempts to sow discord with the U.S. presidential election. Leaks after the election focused on an alleged desire of Russia for Trump to win, rather than for the sole purpose of undermining [[confidence]] in the U.S. electoral system.<ref>''Russian Active Measures'', March 22, 2018, pp. 101-110.</ref> Leftist media hysterically reported that Russians stole the election by hacking voting machines, and Putin stuffed the ballot box for Donald Trump.<ref>http://amp.gothamist.com/amp/articles/create?article_id=582de55bada6e2220e4d68f4 </ref>

On December 5 Obama ordered Brennan to prepare a report on Russian meddling.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-orders-review-of-russian-hacking-during-presidential-campaign/2016/12/09/31d6b300-be2a-11e6-94ac-3d324840106c_story.html?utm_term=.d12bb3f09dd9</ref> Meanwhile, Brennan's liaison with the FBI, [[Peter Strzok]], delivered a false and misleading briefing to House Intelligence Committee investigators into the origins of the ''Steele dossier''. House investigators later were contacted by an informant<!--Priestap?--> suggesting that there was “documentary evidence” that Strzok was obstructing the House probe into the ''Steele dossier''.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/12/texts-between-ex-mueller-team-members-emerge-calling-trump-loathsome-human-idiot.html</ref>

On December 5 Obama ordered Brennan to prepare a report on Russian meddling.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-orders-review-of-russian-hacking-during-presidential-campaign/2016/12/09/31d6b300-be2a-11e6-94ac-3d324840106c_story.html?utm_term=.d12bb3f09dd9</ref> Meanwhile, Brennan's liaison with the FBI, [[Peter Strzok]], delivered a false and misleading briefing to House Intelligence Committee investigators into the origins of the ''Steele dossier''. House investigators later were contacted by an informant<!--Priestap?--> suggesting that there was “documentary evidence” that Strzok was obstructing the House probe into the ''Steele dossier''.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/12/texts-between-ex-mueller-team-members-emerge-calling-trump-loathsome-human-idiot.html</ref>