Russia is attempting to impact the 2024 presidential election using a “malign influence campaign” with the goal of “securing Russia’s preferred outcome,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Wednesday.
Garland said the country was using a state-funded media platform, Russia Today, and fake social media profiles and advertisements to spread “bogus stories disguised as newsworthy events”
“The schemes I’ve just discussed make clear the ends to which the Russian government, including at its highest levels, is willing to go to undermine our democratic process,” Garland said.
The attorney general said the Department of Justice was taking action, along with the Treasury and State Department.
Garland said China and Iran were also attempting to influence American elections. He pointed to a claim by U.S. intelligence that Iran had attempted to harm Trump’s campaign by hacking private information and gaining access to information from both campaigns.
FBI Director Christopher Wray, when asked if he had a message for Iran, China or other foreign governments attempting to influence the U.S. election replied with “knock it off.”
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