Russia Increasing Election Meddling to Aid Trump Against Harris, Officials Say

As Election Day approaches, U.S. intelligence officials report that Russia is intensifying its efforts to interfere in the election, particularly aiming to support former President Donald Trump against Vice President Kamala Harris. The officials, who briefed reporters in a session lasting over an hour, highlighted the use of increasingly sophisticated tactics, including the involvement of both unwitting and potentially aware Americans to influence public opinion and down-ballot races.

This briefing marks a significant moment, as it is among the first explicit acknowledgments from U.S. intelligence that Russian President Vladimir Putin is working to boost Trump’s chances in the upcoming election. Officials were cautious about specifics, avoiding details regarding any ongoing criminal investigations related to individual Americans potentially involved in these operations.

When asked to comment, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign dismissed the assertions, playfully suggesting that Putin had endorsed Harris—a reference to comments made by the Russian leader at a recent conference where he jokingly claimed support for the vice president.

Investigative efforts suggest that Russia’s electoral interference strategy is broader and more sophisticated than in previous cycles. Intelligence officials pointed to a recent indictment alleging a $10 million scheme involving U.S.-based influencers and fake media companies promoting Russian narratives to American voters. An official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) described Moscow’s operations as expansive, involving multiple entities beyond those charged in the indictment.

According to officials, Putin’s public statements should be seen as disinformation that masks Russia’s covert actions. The Kremlin has a history of making public claims that do not align with its actual conduct—such as previous assurances against invading Ukraine before it did so.

In response to the recent indictments, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to denounce them as a continuation of the “Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax,” claiming they were designed to disrupt the election in favor of Democrats. The Harris campaign did not comment on the situation after the intelligence briefing.

In recent legal actions, prosecutors charged two Russian nationals with orchestrating a $10 million campaign intended to sway the 2024 election through online disinformation. Additionally, a Russian-American former adviser to Trump’s 2016 campaign is facing charges of money laundering and working with a sanctioned Russian television network. The complaint against the Russian media network, RT, centered on its role in spreading misinformation under a Tennessee-based company.

Prominent right-wing social media influencers were allegedly involved in this effort, with claims that some did not realize they were part of a Russian operation. The Justice Department also took steps to seize 32 internet domains utilized for distributing misinformation, creating fake news sites to disseminate Russian propaganda.

During the briefing, U.S. officials highlighted the trend of employing conservative influencers as part of more advanced methods to sway opinions this election cycle. The Kremlin’s strategy now involves laundering its propaganda through respected American media figures, making it easier for such narratives to be accepted by the public. The new approach is a departure from past tactics that were more easily identified as foreign interference.

Although Iran and China are also viewed as active participants in foreign interference, Russia is perceived as the most significant threat due to its capabilities and extensive efforts. U.S. officials offered to brief both the Trump and Harris campaigns about the potential threats of foreign interference, although it remains unclear if either campaign accepted such an offer.

In an official security update released by the ODNI, they underscored that Russia poses the most active foreign influence threat in the 2024 election. While no foreign entity has been implicated in tampering with the electoral process itself, ongoing efforts to amplify divisive rhetoric and influence election results remain evident. This aligns with Russia’s broader strategy to undermine U.S. stability and foreign policy goals.

In conclusion, the intelligence community is closely monitoring the complex landscape of foreign interference, with Russia’s strategies evolving to exploit vulnerabilities in the U.S. political sphere. The ramifications of these efforts are yet to be fully realized as the election approaches.

Source: USA Today