The U.S. Justice Department has unsealed criminal charges against three members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, accusing them of hacking Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign in an effort to disrupt the November 5 election. This marks the latest move by the Biden administration to address foreign interference in U.S. elections, a problem that has persisted over recent cycles.
Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the charges at a press conference on Friday, identifying the suspects as Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri, and Yasar Balaghi. According to Garland, the trio sought to undermine Trump’s campaign through a series of cyberattacks.
“We are seeing increasingly aggressive Iranian cyber activity during this election cycle,” Garland stated, underscoring the urgency of combating foreign interference in the U.S. democratic process.
The Hacking Strategy: Phishing and Information Leaks
The indictment describes how the hackers used fake email accounts to pose as trusted sources and trick Trump campaign officials into clicking on malicious links. Once these links were clicked, the hackers were able to gain access to internal campaign documents, including emails, debate preparation materials, and profiles of potential vice-presidential candidates. This stolen information was then leaked to media outlets and allegedly shared with Joe Biden’s campaign team, though Biden’s team did not act on the offers.
The targeted phishing strategy highlights the sophistication of these foreign operations, which aim to exploit trust and gain access to sensitive information. Despite the apparent severity of the breach, Trump’s campaign, which acknowledged the hack in August, stated that no private information was compromised. Several news outlets also confirmed that they declined to publish the internal documents provided by the hackers.
Charges and Sanctions
The charges against the three Iranian hackers include wire fraud, identity theft, and computer fraud. In addition to the criminal charges, the U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on the three men and several other members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. These sanctions aim to disrupt the ability of the individuals to travel and conduct financial transactions internationally.
The Iranian government has denied the accusations, calling them baseless. Despite this denial, Garland emphasized that the U.S. will continue to pursue justice in this case. “We will follow these people for the rest of their lives,” Garland said, pointing out that the Justice Department has successfully apprehended international suspects long after they were initially charged.
Comparing 2024 to 2016: A More Cautious Media Landscape
The situation contrasts sharply with the 2016 election, during which hacked emails from Democrat Hillary Clinton’s campaign were widely publicized and had a significant impact on public discourse. In the case of the current election, the media has shown greater restraint in handling hacked materials. This change in approach demonstrates a growing awareness of the ethical responsibilities involved in handling foreign-sourced materials intended to influence U.S. elections.
The Biden campaign, which was reportedly offered Trump’s debate preparation materials before their June 27 debate, did not respond to the offer. This stands in stark contrast to previous election cycles, where stolen communications became central talking points.
Iran’s Broader Efforts: Not Just Digital Interference
Iran’s efforts to interfere in U.S. politics extend beyond the digital realm. Earlier this month, a Pakistani man with ties to Iran pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges in a plot to assassinate a U.S. politician in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s top Revolutionary Guards commander in 2020. Though former President Trump was named as a potential target in this case, there is no evidence directly linking him to recent assassination attempts.
Ongoing Efforts to Combat Foreign Interference
This indictment is part of a broader effort by the U.S. government to address foreign meddling in elections. In addition to Iran, Russian actors have also been targeted. The Justice Department has charged and sanctioned employees of the Russian state media outlet RT, accusing them of funding pro-Trump social media influencers in the U.S. to sway public opinion.
As election day approaches, U.S. authorities remain on high alert, with multiple nations seeking to influence the outcome. These charges against Iranian hackers serve as a warning that foreign interference in U.S. elections will not be tolerated and will be met with strong legal action.