Iranian hackers who stole former US President Donald Trump campaign ’s documents sent excerpts to individuals linked to President Joe Biden's reelection team earlier this summer with an aim to try to influence the 2024 election , law enforcement officials have said.
The New York Times reported that the recipients of those documents, however, did not engage. The emails, which were sent in late June and early July, were part of an Iranian effort to steal and distribute sensitive communications from aides working for Trump, the report added.
According to the publication, the hackers accessed the email of Roger Stone, a longtime political adviser to Trump.
What the US law officials said
In a joint statement, officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said that “Iranian malicious cyberactors” sent unsolicited emails that included “an excerpt taken from stolen, nonpublic material from former President Trump's campaign.”
Federal officials also believe the hackers also targeted the Biden and Harris campaigns but the emails with the stolen Trump material appeared to be intended for his political opponents.
Harris, Trump campaign spokespersons speak
Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, said, “This is further proof the Iranians are actively interfering in the election to help Kamala Harris and Joe Biden because they know President Trump will restore his tough sanctions and stand against their reign of terror.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, Morgan Finkelstein, noted that a few people were “targeted on their personal emails with what looked like a spam or phishing attempt”, adding that she was not aware that any material had been sent to campaign accounts.
“We have cooperated with the appropriate law enforcement authorities since we were made aware that individuals associated with the then-Biden campaign were among the intended victims of this foreign influence operation,” the spokesperson noted.
The Justice Department's national security division is investigating the hack and could bring charges against those responsible as early as this week, the publication cited officials familiar with the matter.
The New York Times reported that the recipients of those documents, however, did not engage. The emails, which were sent in late June and early July, were part of an Iranian effort to steal and distribute sensitive communications from aides working for Trump, the report added.
According to the publication, the hackers accessed the email of Roger Stone, a longtime political adviser to Trump.
What the US law officials said
In a joint statement, officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said that “Iranian malicious cyberactors” sent unsolicited emails that included “an excerpt taken from stolen, nonpublic material from former President Trump's campaign.”
Federal officials also believe the hackers also targeted the Biden and Harris campaigns but the emails with the stolen Trump material appeared to be intended for his political opponents.
Harris, Trump campaign spokespersons speak
Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, said, “This is further proof the Iranians are actively interfering in the election to help Kamala Harris and Joe Biden because they know President Trump will restore his tough sanctions and stand against their reign of terror.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, Morgan Finkelstein, noted that a few people were “targeted on their personal emails with what looked like a spam or phishing attempt”, adding that she was not aware that any material had been sent to campaign accounts.
“We have cooperated with the appropriate law enforcement authorities since we were made aware that individuals associated with the then-Biden campaign were among the intended victims of this foreign influence operation,” the spokesperson noted.
The Justice Department's national security division is investigating the hack and could bring charges against those responsible as early as this week, the publication cited officials familiar with the matter.
