A newly declassified report from the House Intelligence Committee states that Russian intelligence gathered sensitive information regarding the health of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential campaign but chose not to release it before the election. According to the report, Russian President Vladimir Putin believed Clinton was likely to win the election and therefore opted to withhold the material.
The findings were made public Wednesday after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard authorized the declassification of the House Intelligence Committee’s report examining Russia’s activities related to the 2016 United States presidential election.
According to the report, Russia’s foreign intelligence service, the SVR, obtained internal communications from the Democratic National Committee indicating that Clinton was experiencing what were described as “intensified psycho-emotional problems.” These reportedly included episodes characterized by anger, aggression, and sudden changes in mood.
The committee’s findings were based on approximately 20 interviews with intelligence officials and FBI agents, as well as a review of the underlying intelligence used in a 2017 assessment ordered by then-President Barack Obama regarding Russian election interference.
The report also states that Clinton was allegedly placed on a daily regimen of heavy tranquilizers during the campaign. Communications cited in the document suggest that, despite concerns about the election outcome, she remained strongly focused on winning the presidency.
By September 2016, some of the communications reportedly indicated that Obama administration officials and senior Democratic Party leaders viewed Clinton’s health as “extraordinarily alarming.” They were said to be concerned that her medical condition could negatively affect her ability to defeat Republican nominee Donald Trump in the November election.
The report further claims Clinton was dealing with several health issues at the time, including Type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. According to the document, her advisers treated the full extent of her medical condition with strict confidentiality.
In addition, the SVR reportedly obtained a campaign email referencing a plan approved by Clinton to link Putin and Russian hackers to Trump. The communication suggested the strategy was intended to shift public attention away from the controversy surrounding Clinton’s private email server.
