The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an investigation targeting Americans linked to Russian state media, aiming to prevent any potential Russian interference in the upcoming U.S. elections.
Recent actions include FBI raids on the homes of United Nations weapons inspector Scott Ritter and former Trump campaign adviser Dimitri K. Simes. Both men have associations with Russian state-run television networks.
The investigation reportedly focuses on potential violations of lobbying disclosure laws and economic sanctions against Russia. Both Ritter and Simes deny any wrongdoing, asserting that the scrutiny is politically motivated, according to the New York Times.
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Simes, a Soviet-born U.S. citizen who served as an adviser to Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, labeled the investigation an “attempt to intimidate those who go against official policies.” Ritter, a vocal supporter of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, believes his views have made him a target of national security concerns.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) raised alarms about Russian influence-for-hire firms targeting American public opinion, including efforts related to elections.
“The IC continues to observe a range of foreign actors conducting or planning influence operations targeting U.S elections this November. These actors are closely monitoring U.S. political developments, and we expect them to adjust to this month’s developments to promote influence narratives seeking to undermine democratic institutions, foment discord, and/or change public opinion,” said the DNI.
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“In general, these foreign actors are conducting broader influence campaigns focused on their core interests and to undermine the United States’ global role, so they are likely to continue to calibrate their efforts to any shift during this election cycle to achieve those objectives. Of note for this cycle, we have observed foreign influence actors refining their tactics to better hide their hand,” the DNI announced.
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