The Justice Department is set to file criminal charges concerning the Iranian regime’s hacking of former President Donald Trump’s campaign, multiple reports indicate. DOJ officials believe they have enough evidence to prosecute those who hacked into Trump campaign advisers’ email accounts and offered the stolen information to news outlets in July, according to reports on Thursday. The specifics of the charges, the identities of those who will be charged, and the timing of the filing remain unclear.
The FBI’s investigation focuses on an individual or group using the alias “Robert” online. This entity, believed to be linked to Iran, allegedly provided Trump campaign material to reporters at the Washington Post and Politico to influence the 2024 presidential election. Targets included Trump’s lawyer Lindsey Halligan and senior campaign adviser Susie Wiles. Last month, the Trump campaign acknowledged the hack, attributing it to Iran, after Politico reported receiving a dossier on Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), supposedly compiled by the campaign before he became Trump’s running mate. Politico did not disclose the dossier’s contents but stated it was sent from an AOL email account associated with “Robert.”
DOJ preparing to file charges for Iran hack of Trump | Fox News #cybersecurity https://t.co/hhddVQSIfV
— CyberChick (@warriors_mom) September 13, 2024
Officials from the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency confirmed last month that Iran was behind the hack and had attempted to breach the Biden campaign’s email accounts. Both Microsoft and Google have previously disclosed that Iran breached a campaign. Hackers working for foreign governments are often based in countries that refuse to extradite them to the US, making it unlikely they will face trial.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, who leads the DOJ’s National Security Division, stated on Thursday that Iran is making a greater effort to influence this year’s election compared to previous cycles, with increasingly aggressive activities as the election approaches. He explained that Iran views this year’s elections as significantly impacting its national security interests, prompting stronger efforts to shape the outcome. He made these comments during a speech in New York City. The Post has contacted the DOJ and the Trump campaign for comments.
What Other Media Are Saying
- ABC News reports that the Justice Department and FBI are preparing criminal charges related to an Iranian hack targeting Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, with details still unclear.(read more)
- HuffPost reports that the Justice Department is preparing criminal charges against Iranian hackers who targeted Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, emphasizing a heightened concern about foreign interference in this year’s elections.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What is the Justice Department planning to do about the Iranian hacking of Trump’s campaign?
The DOJ is preparing to file criminal charges against the suspected Iranian hackers.
Who were the targets of the Iranian hacking in Trump’s campaign?
Trump’s lawyer Lindsey Halligan and senior campaign adviser Susie Wiles were targeted.
What did the hackers do with the stolen information from Trump’s campaign?
The hackers offered the stolen campaign information to news outlets like the Washington Post and Politico.
Has Iran attempted to hack any other campaigns besides Trump’s?
Yes, Iran also attempted to breach the Biden campaign’s email accounts.
Why is Iran interested in influencing the upcoming election?
Iran perceives the election as crucial for its national security interests and is making greater efforts to influence the outcome.
