The U.S. Capitol and the Iranian flag are seen at a photo exhibit by the Iranian-American community and supporters of the Iranian resistance movement on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Seral Gunes | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Federal prosecutors on Friday announced criminal charges against three Iranian nationals in connection with recent hacking and other cyber attacks on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign.
According to an indictment, the three “malicious cyber actors” were employed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and engaged in a “widespread hacking campaign” that also targeted current and former government officials, media figures and non-governmental organizations. D.C. Federal Court.
“There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to U.S. national security as Iran,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a press conference on Friday.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate attempts by Iran or any foreign power to interfere in our elections and undermine our democracy.”
The charges come amid heightened scrutiny of how foreign actors, particularly Iran, China and Russia, are trying to influence the U.S. presidential race between Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
U.S. intelligence officials said on Monday that these foreign interference activities include using artificial intelligence to spread disinformation and manipulate public opinion. nbc news reported.
Officials say Iran is working to hurt Trump’s campaign and that Russia prefers Trump, but Trump refuses to say what it wants. Ukraine wins Its war against the invading Kremlin forces.
Meanwhile, officials say China has pushed for anti-democratic influence operations without explicitly supporting Republicans or Democrats.
“These authoritarian regimes that violate the human rights of their own citizens have no say in our nation’s democratic process,” Garland said at a news conference Friday.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
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