Declassified CIA Memo on China Used by Trump Raises Red Flags Among Former Intelligence Officials
Former intelligence officials from The Steady State have called for an independent investigation into a declassified three-page CIA memo titled 'Sensitive PRC Reporting from 2018-2020,' which was released as part of Donald Trump's 2020 election-related document dump. The group's analysis found the document 'departs in both style and format' from standard CIA drafting culture and lacks typical review markers. Despite its dubious origin, Trump directly quoted the memo during a July 16 national address, claiming it showed China's Communist Party sought to reduce his votes and prevent his re-election. Trump used the document to call for Justice Department action against those involved in an alleged cover-up. Former officials warn the memo's narrow perspective and thin context suggest it may have been a response to a targeted request from within the administration. Steven Cash, executive director of The Steady State, plans to send a letter to top lawmakers highlighting the document's anomalies and warning against presenting intelligence products piecemeal to the public.
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