FBI Investigates Suspected Iranian Cyber Intrusion into Trump Campaign
Details emerged over the weekend of a suspected Iranian cyber intrusion into the campaign of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. The FBI is investigating the matter, as well as attempts to infiltrate President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, now Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign after Biden dropped out.
Trump’s presidential campaign announced it had been hacked, with sensitive internal documents stolen and distributed. Several news outlets, including Politico, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, received leaked internal Trump campaign documents via email from an individual identified as “Robert.”
The leaked materials included vetting documents on Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance and Sen. Marco Rubio. Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung warned media outlets against reprinting the documents, stating they were obtained illegally.
While Trump’s campaign did not provide specific evidence of Iran’s involvement, they pointed to a Microsoft report detailing an Iranian attempt to infiltrate a presidential campaign in June. Trump and his adviser Roger Stone confirmed they were contacted by Microsoft regarding suspected cyber intrusions.
U.S. State Department officials declined to speculate on Iran’s involvement but noted Tehran’s history of cyberattacks. Iran’s mission to the United Nations has denied any involvement in the alleged hack.
The Harris campaign has not confirmed any state-based intrusion attempts but remains vigilant against cyber threats. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that at least three Biden-Harris campaign staffers were targeted with phishing emails, though no evidence suggests the attempt was successful.
This incident is reminiscent of the 2016 Russian hack of Hillary Clinton’s campaign emails. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the need for strong cybersecurity, noting the repeated use of this tactic against the U.S.
Experts warn that this is unlikely to be the last attempt to influence the U.S. election through cyberattacks or online disinformation. Former election security official Chris Krebs urged Americans to take this threat seriously, emphasizing that American voters should decide American elections.
The FBI’s investigation into these cyber incidents continues as the 2024 presidential race heats up.
