Federal prosecutors have brought criminal charges against a group of Iranian hackers for allegedly targeting individuals associated with former President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in a malicious cyber scheme. This development, confirmed by multiple sources familiar with the investigation to CBS News, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing efforts to combat foreign interference in the U.S. political landscape.
The Iranian hackers were indicted by a grand jury on Thursday, and the charges are expected to be announced imminently, possibly as early as Friday. The specifics of the allegations and the identities of the defendants remain undisclosed, as the charging documents are currently under seal. The exact number of individuals facing charges has not been confirmed either.
Initial reports on these charges were first made by ABC News and Politico. The Justice Department spokesperson declined to provide any comment on CBS News’ reporting, and a spokesperson for the Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
When formally unveiled, these charges will signify a new phase in the federal government’s efforts to counter Iran’s alleged attempts to interfere in the 2024 presidential election. Federal officials have repeatedly cautioned about Iran’s intentions to undermine the Trump campaign.
The FBI initiated investigations earlier this year following reports of attempted phishing schemes targeting personnel associated with both the Trump and Biden campaigns. In August, CBS News revealed that both campaigns had experienced such attacks. Last week, federal officials, including the FBI and other intelligence agencies, issued a statement confirming that Iranian cyber actors had sent unsolicited emails containing stolen material from Trump’s campaign to individuals linked to President Biden’s campaign. However, there was no evidence of any recipients responding to these emails.
The statement further disclosed ongoing efforts by Iranian cyber actors to disseminate stolen material linked to Trump’s campaign to U.S. media outlets since June. It highlighted an increase in foreign actors’ activities aimed at influencing the upcoming election as the November date drew closer. Despite these revelations, Iran’s United Nations mission has denied any intentions to interfere in the U.S. election, dismissing such accusations as baseless.
Trump’s campaign disclosed last month that it had fallen victim to a cyberattack orchestrated by Iranian actors, who reportedly stole and circulated sensitive internal documents to the media. In response, FBI agents collaborated with tech giants Google and Microsoft to investigate the spearphishing attacks targeting individuals close to both campaigns. A report published by Microsoft earlier in the year outlined Iran’s evolving tactics in influencing the election.
Following the assassination of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Trump and his former administration members became primary targets for Iranian cyber actors. Some officials received heightened security measures due to death threats, and in July, federal prosecutors filed charges against a Pakistani national with ties to Iran for allegedly planning to assassinate American politicians, including Trump.
Iran is not the sole foreign adversary engaging in efforts to undermine the impending presidential election. U.S. intelligence agencies have warned about similar campaigns by Russia and China, with Russia allegedly targeting Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential aspirations. Speaking at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized the growing number of threat actors involved in election interference, fueled by advancements in artificial intelligence.
Monaco highlighted the objective of these actors to sow discord, distrust, and undermine confidence in the democratic process. The increasing sophistication of these cyber campaigns poses a significant challenge to election security and integrity.
In conclusion, the criminal charges against Iranian hackers targeting Trump campaign associates underscore the persistent threat of foreign interference in U.S. elections. As federal authorities continue to investigate and combat these malicious activities, the need for robust cybersecurity measures and vigilance in safeguarding democratic processes becomes increasingly imperative.
