A former senior CIA officer, Susan Miller, who played a crucial role in the 2017 intelligence assessment regarding Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, has publicly refuted claims made by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and the White House. Miller asserts that their statements suggesting the intelligence was aimed at sabotaging President Donald Trump are “lies.” According to Miller, the intelligence report was grounded in credible evidence indicating that Moscow sought to assist Trump in winning the election, while simultaneously noting the absence of any conspiracy between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign.
In an interview with NBC News, Miller stated, “The director of national intelligence and the White House are lying, again.” She emphasized that there was substantial intelligence demonstrating that Russia aimed to help Trump secure the presidency. However, Miller clarified, “At the same time, we found no two-way collusion between Trump or his team with the Russians at that time.” This statement comes in response to Gabbard’s recent allegations that the 2017 intelligence assessment was based on “manufactured” information intended to undermine Trump and tarnish his electoral victory.
Gabbard referred to a 2020 report from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which she declassified and released, claiming it demonstrated insufficient evidence to conclude that Russia was attempting to influence the election in favor of Trump. Miller responded firmly, stating that the narrative pushed by Trump and his allies appears to follow a scripted agenda, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. “Both my team and I, along with the Director of the CIA, communicated clearly in our report that Trump was our president,” she added.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence dismissed Miller’s assertions, with spokesperson Olivia Coleman stating, “Susan is wrong. And the American people can read for themselves hundreds of reasons why she is wrong in the declassified HPSCI report.” It is important to note that the Republican-led House report faced strong opposition from Democratic lawmakers, while a bipartisan Senate investigation corroborated the intelligence agencies' findings regarding Russia’s disinformation campaign aimed at undermining Hillary Clinton and bolstering Trump’s candidacy.
Miller has a distinguished background, having served nine tours abroad during her 39-year career at the CIA. She was tasked with leading a team to rigorously investigate Russia’s involvement in the election. Miller recounted the intense political climate following the election, explaining that her team faced pressure from both ends of the political spectrum: those who wanted to find Trump complicit and others who sought to absolve him. “We ignored all of it,” she stated, emphasizing their commitment to neutrality and letting the data guide their conclusions.
During the assessment process, then-CIA Director John Brennan supported Miller's efforts without exerting undue pressure. However, Gabbard and others have accused Brennan of fabricating intelligence to undermine Trump, accusations that Brennan has categorically rejected. Miller noted that the task force explored every angle, including any potential collusion between Trump and the Kremlin, and ultimately found no evidence to support such claims. “The summary of it is 100% they tried to influence the election, and 100% we can’t say if it worked unless we polled every voter,” she explained.
As the assessment neared completion, former FBI Director James Comey requested the inclusion of the controversial Steele dossier, which contained unverified allegations about Trump. Miller opposed this late-stage addition, arguing that it could derail their findings. Ultimately, the CIA and FBI reached a compromise, including the dossier in an annex with a disclaimer that its claims had not been verified by U.S. intelligence agencies.
In a surprising turn, Miller later found herself facing potential criminal charges related to her role in the assessment. Initially believing it was a joke, she quickly hired legal representation when the seriousness of the situation became apparent. During the Trump administration, Miller was questioned extensively about her alleged biases in writing the assessment, despite her lifelong Republican affiliation. Ultimately, she faced no charges or disciplinary actions and retired during the Biden administration.
As the political landscape remains tumultuous, Miller expresses concern that Russia is likely reveling in the ongoing discord in Washington. “Putin and his BFFs in the Kremlin are toasting vodka shots as we speak at the turmoil this is creating,” she remarked, highlighting the enduring impact of the 2016 election interference on American politics.
