Harris Campaign Denies Using Trump Materials from Iranian Hackers

On Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign issued a statement clarifying that it did not employ any materials that the FBI indicated were gathered by Iranian hackers from email accounts linked to former President Donald Trump’s campaign. These materials were reportedly sent to individuals connected with President Joe Biden’s campaign prior to Biden’s departure from the presidential race.

The Trump campaign responded to these revelations on Wednesday by calling for more details from Harris’ campaign regarding the materials. They specifically requested information on whether the materials were utilized and what exactly was received.

A representative from Harris’ campaign confirmed to ABC News that “the materials were not used.” However, the campaign did not comment on whether it would comply with the Trump campaign’s request for disclosure.

According to findings released on Wednesday by the FBI and other U.S. intelligence agencies, the hackers sent unsolicited emails over the summer to individuals linked to then-candidate Biden. These emails contained excerpts derived from stolen, non-public documents from Trump’s campaign.

The specifics of the content within those excerpts remain unclear at this time. However, the FBI indicated that there is no evidence suggesting that the individuals who received these emails responded to the hackers.

Amid these developments, the White House revealed that President Biden only became aware of the Iranian hacker incident on Wednesday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated, “We learned about the statement yesterday, and the president has been made aware of it now.” She emphasized the administration’s commitment to holding accountable those who aim to weaken confidence in U.S. democracy.

In response to the situation, Harris’ campaign asserted it has been cooperating with law enforcement authorities and the ongoing investigation into the matter. They stressed that they were “not aware of any material being sent directly to the campaign.”

Harris campaign spokesperson Morgan Finkelstein added that “a few individuals were targeted on their personal emails with what looked like a spam or phishing attempt,” rather than any direct attack on the campaign itself.

In a counterpoint, the Trump campaign argued that hackers are interfering to support Harris and Biden, claiming that they are aware that Trump would reinstate tough sanctions against Iran and oppose their “reign of terror.”

Iran’s Mission to the United Nations denounced the assertions made by U.S. intelligence agencies, labeling their findings as “fundamentally unfounded and wholly inadmissible.”

The ongoing dialogue surrounding this hacking incident underscores the continuing political tensions and cybersecurity issues faced by campaigns, especially in a pivotal election year. Both campaigns are navigating the implications of these allegations, with significant scrutiny from the public and media alike. As updates evolve, the focus remains on transparency and accountability from all parties involved.

Source: ABC News