Three Iranian nationals, identified as members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, have been indicted for hacking into the campaign of an unidentified presidential candidate, which U.S. officials have privately stated was former President Donald Trump’s. The hackers stole documents from the campaign and then sent them to people associated with Trump’s Democratic political rival. Iran has denied the accusations, calling them baseless. The FBI and other agencies have confirmed that there is no evidence of recipients associated with President Joe Biden’s campaign responding to the hacked emails. This incident is part of an ongoing effort by Iran to influence the U.S. election, with U.S. intelligence officials noting that Iran has intensified its disinformation campaigns this year.
Officials have also stated that Russia is trying to aid Trump’s re-election, while China is attempting to influence state and local races to benefit Beijing. The three countries, all ruled by authoritarian leaders, are seeking to undermine U.S. democracy and create division among Americans. The Justice Department is investigating foreign interference in the 2024 election and has indicted individuals who are part of efforts to manipulate American politics. U.S. officials are urging Americans to be vigilant and skeptical of unvetted information as the country faces threats from foreign governments seeking to influence election results.
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