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DOJ Investigates American Collaborators of Russian State Media Ahead of Elections
Explore the Department of Justice’s investigation into American collaborators with Russian state media as the elections approach. Discover the implications for democracy and the fight against foreign influence in U.S. politics.
Department of Justice Launches Investigation into Russian Media Collaborators
The Department of Justice has initiated a sweeping criminal investigation targeting Americans affiliated with Russia’s state television networks. This move signals a vigorous effort to counter the Kremlin’s influence operations as the presidential election approaches in November, according to American officials familiar with the inquiry.
This month, F.B.I. agents executed searches at the residences of two notable individuals connected to Russian state media: Scott Ritter, a former United Nations weapons inspector and outspoken critic of U.S. foreign policy, and Dimitri K. Simes, an adviser to former President Donald J. Trump during his first presidential campaign in 2016. As of now, prosecutors have not revealed any charges against either individual.
More investigative actions are anticipated in the near future, with several officials indicating that additional searches are on the horizon. Criminal charges against those involved are also a distinct possibility, they noted, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the investigations.
This investigation emerges in the context of the Biden administration’s recent intelligence assessments, which assert that Russia’s state news outlets, including the global news channel RT, are collaborating with Russian intelligence agencies to manipulate elections worldwide. These efforts directly involve the impending electoral contest between Mr. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
As revealed by officials and through public statements, for the third consecutive election cycle, the Kremlin’s propaganda machinery is rallying behind Mr. Trump’s candidacy. This includes the creation of online news platforms and the dissemination of fabricated videos aimed at discrediting President Biden and, more recently, Ms. Harris.
The focus of the ongoing investigation appears to be on potential infringements of the economic sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, as well as violations of a law mandating the disclosure of lobbying efforts on behalf of foreign governments.