A binder containing highly classified information on Russian election interference went missing at the end of the Trump administration and has never been recovered, US sources said.
American intelligence officials are concerned that the file of national secrets could be exposed, revealing the CIA’s official assessment of Russian attempts to secure the 2016 election for Donald Trump.
It came as the Kremlin said on Friday that it wants a “more constructive” relationship with the US following the 2024 elections in a hint that Vladimir Putin would favour Mr Trump over Joe Biden.
Western leaders are increasingly concerned that the re-election of Mr Trump, who has praised Putin in the past for strong leadership, will damage attempts to contain Moscow.
The binder was last seen in the White House in the final days of Mr Trump’s presidency, a CNN report said, as aides worked to redact classified information from the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference.
It is believed to contain intelligence gathered by the US and other Nato allies, and details the work of Russian agents during the 2016 election.
A separate report by Robert Mueller, who was appointed to investigate Russian interference in 2016, found that Putin’s agents attempted to sway the election results “in sweeping and systematic fashion”.