Federal authorities are preparing to file criminal charges over Iran’s alleged hack and leak attack against Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, according to sources close to the investigation. The FBI has been focused on an online persona named “Robert” who contacted American reporters and shared campaign documents that were falsely claimed to have been obtained while working with the campaign.
The individuals posing as Robert were believed to be acting on behalf of the Iranian government and offered data files stolen from Trump advisers’ email accounts to outlets like Politico and The Washington Post. Criminal charges could be filed in the coming days, with the Justice Department and FBI declining to comment on the matter.
Among those targeted in the hacking scheme was adviser Susie Wiles, a senior official on Trump’s 2024 campaign. The FBI and U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Iran was responsible for attempted hacks into both the Trump and Biden-Harris campaigns, with evidence now believed to be sufficient for criminal charges to be brought.
The FBI has stated that Iran’s actions are intended to influence the U.S. election process and shape the outcome of the upcoming presidential election. This follows similar efforts by Iran and Russia in prior federal election cycles, as confirmed by joint statements from the FBI and U.S. intelligence agencies.
The investigation into suspected Iranian hacking began in June and has involved collaboration with Google and Microsoft to examine phishing efforts targeting individuals associated with the presidential campaigns. Iran was also behind spear-phishing emails sent to Roger Stone, a Trump adviser, who had his email account compromised.
These actions highlight the ongoing threats posed by foreign adversaries seeking to interfere in U.S. elections and sow discord in American society, with authorities working diligently to address and prevent such cyberattacks in the future.
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