Russia Report Vanishes from Senate Site: Glitch or Cover-Up?

A report detailing Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election has mysteriously disappeared from the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence website, sparking online speculation.

As of early Tuesday morning, the specific page on intelligence.senate.gov, previously hosting the bipartisan committee’s Volume 1 findings on Russian meddling, displayed a “no results found” message. While the report remains accessible through another government portal, GovInfo, the disappearance from the Senate site has raised eyebrows.

Newsweek has reached out to the White House and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence for comment regarding the missing report.

Why This Matters

The vanishing act coincides with the return of President Donald Trump to the White House. Similar “page not found” errors have occurred during previous presidential transitions, attributed to routine website updates. However, the sensitive nature of the Russia investigation has fueled suspicions.

Details of the Disappearing Document

Users on Reddit’s r/craftofintelligence noticed the missing document. Clicking the original link now leads to a generic error message advising users to refine their search. Archive records suggest the report was last available on May 13th.

The multi-volume report, released between July 2019 and August 2020, detailed the Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election.

A press release accompanying the report’s initial release highlighted the extensive scope of the investigation: over 15 hearings, 200+ witness interviews, and nearly 400,000 documents reviewed. Notably, the press release stated there was “no evidence that any votes were changed or that any voting machines were manipulated” and “no allegation of any criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia.”

Volume 1 of the report, still accessible via GovInfo, concluded that the Russian government engaged in “extensive activity” to sabotage the election, allegedly favoring Trump. The report also included statements from former Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) and Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA).

Past website glitches during the Trump administration have been attributed to routine maintenance. For example, biographies of former presidents temporarily disappeared, as did a page for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

Reactions & Speculation

The disappearance of the report has triggered online discussions, with some Reddit users suggesting deliberate removal, despite the report’s availability elsewhere.

What’s Next?

The reasons behind the report’s removal from the Senate website remain unclear. Official explanations are pending.