The intercepts bolstered the findings gleaned from the interrogations, helping reduce an earlier disagreement among intelligence analysts and agencies over the reliability of the detainees. The disclosures further undercut White House officials’ claim that the intelligence was too uncertain to brief President Trump. In fact, the information was provided to him in his daily written brief in late February, two officials have said. Afghan officials this week described a sequence of events that dovetails with the account of the intelligence. The businessmen were arrested in what the officials described as sweeping raids in the north of Afghanistan, as well as in Kabul.

Source: New York Times June 30, 2020 17:15 UTC