The US Justice Department has unveiled criminal Charges against three members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps for hacking into Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and attempting to disrupt the November 5 election
This move is part of the Biden administration’s efforts to counter foreign interference in the election between Trump and his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Indictment
The indictment names Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri, and Yasar Balaghi as the perpetrators. They allegedly used fake email accounts to trick campaign officials into clicking on links that allowed the hackers to steal emails and internal documents, including debate preparation material and profiles of potential vice presidential candidates
The stolen information was then leaked to media outlets and the Biden campaign.
Charges and Sanctions
The charges against the three Iranians include wire fraud, identity theft, and computer fraud. Additionally, the US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on the trio, as well as several other Revolutionary Guard Corps members [1).
Iran’s Response
Iran has denied the accusations, calling them “baseless”
However, the US Justice Department remains vigilant, warning of increasingly aggressive Iranian cyber activity during this election cycle.
The Broader Context
This incident is not isolated. The Iranian hacking team, known as APT42 or Charming Kitten, is notorious for placing surveillance software on mobile phones
Furthermore, the Justice Department has also targeted Russian attempts to tamper with the election, bringing charges and sanctions against employees of state media outlet RT.
The US government’s charges against the Iranian hackers underscore the ongoing threats to election security.
As the November 5 election approaches, it’s essential to remain vigilant and proactive in countering foreign interference.