Washington, D.C. — A retired CIA officer who played a crucial role in the 2017 assessment regarding Russia’s influence in the 2016 presidential election has criticized current claims by the Biden administration and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, suggesting they misrepresent findings related to Moscow’s actions. Susan Miller, who oversaw the intelligence report, insists that while Russian operatives aimed to benefit Donald Trump during his campaign, there was no evidence of collusion between the Kremlin and Trump’s team.

Miller addressed Gabbard’s assertions that the intelligence findings were fabricated as part of a scheme by the previous administration to undermine Trump’s victory. Gabbard recently invoked a 2020 report from Republican lawmakers which downplayed Russia’s role in the election, framing it as an official effort to falsely implicate Trump.

“The claims made by Director Gabbard and the White House are unfounded,” Miller stated. She emphasized that the intelligence community had substantial information indicating that a primary objective of Russia was to sway the election in favor of Trump, yet they found no proof of a collaborative effort between Trump’s campaign and Russian officials.

Further elaborating, she noted that her team communicated with Trump during briefings, making it clear that they could not ascertain the extent to which Russian disinformation impacted the vote. “We acknowledged that we would need to poll every Trump voter to understand if it influenced their decision,” she added. Miller stressed that their assessment reaffirmed Trump’s position as the duly elected president.

In a pointed remark, Miller remarked, “[Trump and his supporters] seem determined to adhere to a narrative that conflicts with established facts.” She pointed out that both her team and the then-CIA director confirmed to Trump that they had no way to measure the effectiveness of the Russian interference.

The current Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not endorse Miller’s views, asserting her interpretations were incorrect. An ODNI spokesperson reiterated that the 2020 Republican report had been thoroughly rejected by Democrats, while a bipartisan Senate investigation later validated the intelligence agencies’ conclusions regarding Russian interference in the election.

A White House spokesperson defended Gabbard’s release of documents intended to illuminate alleged misconduct by the Obama administration surrounding the Russian interference narrative. Meanwhile, a representative for former President Barack Obama criticized the allegations as “outrageous” and “ridiculous.”

As the 2016 election unfolded, intelligence evaluations indicated that Russian operations aimed to spread misinformation and tarnish Hillary Clinton’s candidacy, ultimately benefiting Trump. Following the election, John Brennan, then-CIA director, assigned Miller to lead a focused task force investigating Russia’s election involvement.

Miller assembled a diverse team of experts to analyze intelligence while navigating the politically charged atmosphere surrounding their work. “We ignored the pressures,” she said, emphasizing their commitment to an objective evaluation.

The final assessment conducted by her team concluded that Russia had indeed engaged in extensive misinformation campaigns to distort the electoral process in the United States—though they could not definitively say whether it influenced the election outcomes. Miller expressed frustration over the late addition of unverified materials, specifically a dossier about Trump, which was ultimately included at the insistence of the FBI under the direction of James Comey.

After serving a prolonged career with the CIA, Miller recounted her astonishment when, during the Trump administration, she was informed she could face potential legal consequences for her role in the assessment. Although she was never charged, her reassurances of neutrality were questioned in official inquiries.

Despite the continued political divisiveness over Russia’s 2016 election interference, Miller speculates that such discord only serves to satisfy the Kremlin, allowing its operatives to rejoice in the ongoing turmoil created in U.S. politics. “Putin and his allies must be celebrating the chaos they’ve helped create,” she remarked, reflecting on the long-lasting impact of that pivotal election.