“At the bipartisan request of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Intelligence Community reviewed all transcripts for classification and made appropriate redactions. HPSCI voted unanimously in 2018 to publicly release these transcripts, and it is long past time that these are released.”

The transcripts can be accessed here.

Source: ODNI

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“Consistent with its jurisdiction, investigative responsibilities, and building on substantial work undertaken during the last Congress, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (“Committee”) will conduct a rigorous investigation into efforts by Russia and other foreign entities to influence the U.S. political process during and since the 2016 U.S. election.  In addition, the Committee will investigate the counterintelligence threat arising from any links or coordination between U.S. persons and the Russian government and/or other foreign entities, including any financial or other leverage such foreign actors may possess.

“In the more than two years since the Intelligence Community released its assessment of Russia’s malign influence operation targeting the 2016 U.S. elections, much has been learned about the scope and scale of Russia’s attack on our democracy, including how covert and overt Russian activities intersected with individuals associated with Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, transition, administration, and business interests, including the Trump Organization.  It is now known that, from late 2015 through early 2017, individuals close to Donald Trump engaged in a significant number of contacts with an array of individuals connected to, or working on behalf of, the Russian government, and that several of these contacts involved efforts to acquire and disseminate damaging information about Hillary Clinton and her campaign, or related to Russia’s desired relief from U.S. sanctions.

“While Special Counsel Robert Mueller continues his investigation into whether there were “any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the [Trump] campaign,” and whether any crimes were committed in connection with, or arising from, that investigation, the Committee must fulfill its responsibility to provide the American people with a comprehensive accounting of what happened, and what the United States must do to protect itself from future interference and malign influence operations.

“During the prior Congress, the Committee began to pursue credible reports of money laundering and financial compromise related to the business interests of President Trump, his family, and his associates. The President’s actions and posture towards Russia during the campaign, transition, and administration have only heightened fears of foreign financial or other leverage over President Trump and underscore the need to determine whether he or those in his Administration have acted in service of foreign interests since taking office.

“Unfortunately, these and numerous other avenues of inquiry were not completed during the last Congress.  Now, in the 116th Congress, the Committee’s investigation will focus principally on five interconnected lines of inquiry, beginning with these incomplete or unexamined investigative threads:

(1)    The scope and scale of the Russian government’s operations to influence the U.S. political process, and the U.S. government’s response, during and since the 2016 election;

(2)    The extent of any links and/or coordination between the Russian government, or related foreign actors, and individuals associated with Donald Trump’s campaign, transition, administration, or business interests, in furtherance of the Russian government’s interests;

(3)    Whether any foreign actor has sought to compromise or holds leverage, financial or otherwise, over Donald Trump, his family, his business, or his associates;

(4)    Whether President Trump, his family, or his associates are or were at any time at heightened risk of, or vulnerable to, foreign exploitation, inducement, manipulation, pressure, or coercion, or have sought to influence U.S. government policy in service of foreign interests; and

(5)    Whether any actors – foreign or domestic – sought or are seeking to impede, obstruct, and/or mislead authorized investigations into these matters, including those in the Congress.

“The Committee may pursue additional lines of inquiry regarding matters that arise from the investigation, and it intends to cooperate with other congressional committees, as needed, on matters of overlapping interest.  The Committee also plans to develop legislation and policy reforms to ensure the U.S. government is better positioned to counter future efforts to undermine our political process and national security.

“As its first act, the Committee has voted to release to the Department of Justice and its components, including the Special Counsel’s Office, transcripts of testimony taken before the Committee during the 115th Congress, with no restrictions on their use.

“The Committee also plans to release to the public all investigation transcripts, as it is committed to providing the American public with greater transparency and insight into Russia’s operations and the U.S. government’s response. To protect ongoing investigative interests and information that remains classified, the Committee will release transcripts in a manner and according to a timetable that allows continued pursuit of important leads and testimony, while ensuring that the American people have faith in the process and can assess for themselves the evidence that has been uncovered, while legitimate national security interests continue to be protected.

“As Chairman of the Committee, I am committed to leading a thorough and impartial investigation that will follow the facts, and I hope that our Minority counterparts will join us in that effort.  Congress has a duty to expose foreign interference, hold Russia to account, ensure that U.S. officials – including the President – are serving the national interest and, if not, are held accountable.”

Source: HPSCI

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The hearing will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 19, in room 1100 of the Longworth Building. It will be livestreamed on the HPSCI website here.

Who:                   House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI)

What:                  Hearing on China’s Threat to American Government and Private ector Research and Innovation Leadership (Open)

When:                 Thursday, July  19, 2018, 8:30 am – 10:30 am ET

Where:                Room 1100, Longworth Building

The hearing witnesses include:

• Michael Pillsbury, Director of the Center on Chinese Strategy, Hudson Institute
• Michael Brown, Symantec Corporation
• James Phillips, Chairman and CEO of NanoMech, Inc.
• Elsa Kania, Adjunct Fellow at Center for a New American Security

Source: HPSCI

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This legislation provides the Intelligence Community (IC) the necessary resources and authorities to ensure they remain capable of protecting and defending the United States, the committee said. The bill supports critical national security programs, particularly those focused on countering threats from China as well as cyberattacks; the legislation does not make any changes to key surveillance authorities.  The total funding levels authorized by the bill are slightly above the President’s budget, balancing fiscal discipline and national security. This legislation:

• Improves Retention and Recruitment of Personnel for Critical Cyber Missions by providing increased pay for certain employees with unique cyber skills;
• Defends against foreign threats to elections by requiring the Director of National Intelligence to electronically publish an unclassified advisory report on foreign counterintelligence and cybersecurity threats to election campaigns for federal offices;
• Protects Key Energy Infrastructure by creating an Infrastructure Security Center within the Department of Energy to coordinate intelligence on significant threats;
• Authorizes enhanced injury benefits to CIA employees injured overseas due to hostile acts or terrorist activities;
• Bolsters intelligence oversight by requiring the Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense to develop a framework to assess the numerous roles, missions and functions of the Defense Intelligence Agency;
• Improves IC accountability to Congress by requiring the IC to provide reports on:
  • Investigations of leaks of classified information;
  • Security clearance processing timelines;
  • The process for reviewing information about computer vulnerabilities for retention or potential release; and
  • Russian influence campaigns directed at foreign elections

The bill will now advance for a vote by the full House of Representatives.

Source: HPSCI

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“The Intelligence Community has finished its declassification review of the House Intelligence Committee’s Russia investigation final report. Given the substantial public interest at stake, the Committee is publishing the redacted version we’ve received. However, we object to the excessive and unjustified number of redactions, many of which do not relate to classified information. The Committee will convey our objections to the appropriate agencies and looks forward to publishing a less redacted version in the near future.”

The report is available here and here.

Source: HPSCI

The post House intelligence committee publishes Russia report appeared first on Intelligence Community News.

A crucial tool used by the Intelligence Community to thwart terror attacks, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows for targeted intelligence collection on foreign terrorists located outside the United States. The bill will renew Section 702 authorities for four years while making key reforms to strengthen privacy protections for Americans. Without renewal, the authorities will expire on December 31, 2017.

For more information on the bill, click here.

Source: HPSCI

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This legislation provides the Intelligence Community (IC) the necessary resources and authorities to ensure they remain capable of protecting and defending the United States. The bill supports critical national security programs, particularly those focused on countering terrorism and cyberattacks. The total funding levels authorized by the bill are slightly below the President’s budget, balancing fiscal discipline and national security. This legislation:

Focuses the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) on core missions by eliminating several DIA components and functions or realigning them to other IC elements;

Defends against foreign threats to elections by requiring the Director of National Intelligence to electronically publish an unclassified advisory report on foreign counterintelligence and cybersecurity threats to election campaigns for federal offices;

Bolsters intelligence oversight by ensuring that IC contractors can meet freely with Congress; and

Improves IC accountability to Congress by requiring the IC to provide reports on:

o   Investigations of leaks of classified information;

o   Security clearance processing timelines;

o   The process for reviewing information about computer vulnerabilities for retention or potential release; and

o   Russian influence campaigns directed at foreign elections and threat finance activities.

The Act makes no changes to any surveillance authorities, including those set to expire later this year, which will be addressed in separate legislation.

House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes said: “This is a crucial, bipartisan bill that will keep the Intelligence Community fully funded and subject to robust congressional oversight. I thank the House for passing the IAA on a bipartisan basis, and I look forward to its quick passage in the Senate.”

Ranking Member Adam Schiff said: “I am pleased that the House has once again passed the Intelligence Authorization Act with a strong bipartisan majority. This year’s intelligence authorization bill makes sure our intelligence agencies and the Department of Defense have the resources, authorities, and capabilities they need to protect our nation, but it also ensures vigorous oversight, particularly to make sure privacy and civil liberties are protected.”

For more information on the bill, click here.

Source: HPSCI

The post House of Representatives passes FY18 intelligence authorization bill appeared first on Intelligence Community News.

According to the committee, this legislation provides the Intelligence Community (IC) the necessary resources and authorities to ensure they remain capable of protecting and defending the United States.

The bill supports critical national security programs, particularly those focused on countering terrorism and cyberattacks. The total funding levels authorized by the bill are slightly below the president’s budget, balancing fiscal discipline and national security. This legislation:

• Focuses the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) on core missions by eliminating several DIA components and functions or realigning them to other IC elements;
• Defends against foreign threats to elections by requiring the Director of National Intelligence to electronically publish an unclassified advisory report on foreign counterintelligence and cybersecurity threats to election campaigns for federal offices;
• Bolsters intelligence oversight by ensuring that IC contractors can meet freely with Congress; and
• Improves IC accountability to Congress by requiring the IC to provide reports on:

1. Investigations of leaks of classified information;
2. Security clearance processing timelines;
3. The process for reviewing information about computer vulnerabilities for retention or potential release; and
4. Russian influence campaigns directed at foreign elections and threat finance activities.

The Act makes no changes to any surveillance authorities, including those set to expire later this year, which will be addressed in separate legislation.

Chairman Devin Nunes said: “At a time when our nation faces major national security challenges from terrorist groups as well as nation states, it’s crucial that the Intelligence Community receive all the resources it needs to do its job while Congress has the necessary tools to carry out rigorous oversight of its work. This bill will ensure that our intelligence professionals have the biggest chance of success in thwarting foreign threats.”

Ranking Member Adam Schiff said: “Our nation faces a diverse and growing array of threats, and it is more important than ever that we provide the intelligence agencies with the resources, authorities and capabilities they need to protect our nation, while also ensuring we protect our privacy and civil liberties. This bill is the product of months of oversight and examination and a bipartisan commitment to the nation’s security. I look forward to taking the bill up on the House floor and to its eventual passage.”

For more information on the bill, click here.

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The bill (H.R. 5077), which passed unanimously out of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on April 29, ensures that the programs and activities of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), including Department of Defense (DoD) intelligence elements, are authorized in law and optimally resourced to protect the nation from threats at home and abroad.  Equally important, this critical piece of legislation ensures rigorous congressional oversight of the IC, including over its most sensitive aspects.

In particular, this year’s IAA focuses resources on current challenges, such as the ongoing threat of terrorism from groups such as ISIL, while also prioritizing longer-term threats. The bill includes provisions to enhance congressional oversight of the IC, ensure good governance and fiscal responsibility, and strengthen our technical collection and analysis capabilities across domains as varied as outer space and cyberspace. It also fences significant amounts of funding to better ensure continuous IC accountability throughout the year.

The total funding authorized by H.R. 5077 is consistent with the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 and is nearly equal to the 2017 President’s budget request.  Many important provisions championed by the majority and minority are included in the bill. Specifically, the fiscal year 2017 IAA:

• Emphasizes the need to focus on long-term threats, such as those from an increasingly aggressive China, Russia, and North Korea, while maintaining focus on the immediate threats posed by terrorism and the security challenges in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia;
• Sustains critical capabilities to fight terrorism and counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
• Caps fees for mandatory declassification reviews to match costs of Freedom of Information Act requests, and preserves IC elements’ discretion to waive fees for mandatory declassification;

• Includes provisions aimed at better ensuring the integrity of DoD intelligence analysis, and improves procedures for IC whistleblowers to report complaints to Congress;
• Clarifies eligibility for death benefits for Central Intelligence Agency personnel;
• Requires a declassification review of intelligence on the past terrorist activities of certain individuals transferred out of Guantanamo Bay;

• Improves IC reporting to Congress by requiring the IC to provide:
  • Statistics on IC personnel detailed to the National Security Council;
  • Threat reports submitted to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and IC impact statements on CFIUS transactions;
  • National Counterterrorism Center reporting on foreign fighter flows;
  • Follow-up reporting on IC scholarship programs; and
  • Reporting on defense intelligence acquisition milestones.

House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes said, “This bill provides the funding and resources our Intelligence Community needs to accomplish its difficult task of discovering, monitoring, and defusing a wide array of foreign threats to our homeland – including ISIL and al Qaeda, both of which are striving to inspire or carry out attacks on the United States. The large majority in favor of the bill shows there is a wide, bipartisan consensus in Congress for supporting the Intelligence Community with provisions for strict congressional oversight. I look forward to swift passage of the bill in the Senate.”

Ranking Member Adam Schiff (D-CA) said, “The U.S. Intelligence Community does a tremendous job of protecting our nation from the large, diverse and relentless set of global threats we face.  This year’s intelligence authorization bill makes sure our intelligence agencies have the resources, authorities, and capabilities they need to protect our nation, but it also enables the most thorough and tenacious oversight, particularly to make sure privacy and civil liberties are protected.  The bill is strong, and I look forward to working with the Senate, the Administration and all my congressional colleagues to further improve it on its way to becoming law.”

The unclassified bill text and additional information are available here.

Source: HPSCI

The post Intelligence Authorization Act passes full House appeared first on Intelligence Community News.

This legislation provides the Intelligence Community authorization needed to protect and defend the United States. It supports critical national security programs such as those protecting Americans against terrorism and cyberattacks. The total funding authorized by the bill is consistent with the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, balancing fiscal discipline and national security.

Among other things, the legislation:

• Sustains critical capabilities to fight terrorism and counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
• Shines a light on Guantanamo transfers by requiring declassification reviews of intelligence on past terrorist activities of individuals transferred out of Guantanamo Bay.
• Strengthens Congressional oversight of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) by setting authorization requirements for the PCLOB and directing PCLOB to keep Congress fully informed of its activities in a timely way.
• Caps fees for mandatory declassification reviews to match costs of similar Freedom of Information Act requests.
• Updates Intelligence Community whistleblowing procedures.
• Clarifies eligibility for death benefits for Central Intelligence Agency personnel.
• Improves Intelligence Community reporting to Congress.

“This bill will keep the Intelligence Community fully funded so it can carry out its vital work protecting Americans from a wide range of pressing foreign threats,” said Chairman Nunes. “At the same time, the bill ensures that Congress has the means to conduct vigorous oversight over the Intelligence Community’s activities. I thank our committee’s members for their bipartisan work in drafting this bill, and I look forward to its swift passage in the House of Representatives.”

For more information on the bill, click here.

Source: HPSCI

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