Photo: Alamy
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and other agencies announced on Wednesday that Iranian hackers shared private Trump campaign information with President Joe Biden’s campaign in June and July.
The agencies shared the details in a statement from the FBI National Press Office concerning the election integrity issue.
“Iranian malicious cyber actors in late June and early July sent unsolicited emails to individuals then associated with President Biden’s campaign that contained an excerpt taken from stolen, non-public material from former President Trump’s campaign as text in the emails,” the statement read.
“There is currently no information indicating those recipients replied. Furthermore, Iranian malicious cyber actors have continued their efforts since June to send stolen, non-public material associated with former President Trump’s campaign to U.S. media organizations,” it continued.
The agencies argued that the hacking activity is a recent example of the growing efforts used by Iran and other nations to undermine America’s democratic elections.
“Foreign actors are increasing their election influence activities as we approach November. In particular, Russia, Iran, and China are trying by some measure to exacerbate divisions in U.S. society for their own benefit, and see election periods as moments of vulnerability,” the statement noted.
The FBI called the foreign efforts a direct threat to the nation that would not be tolerated.
“Efforts by these, or other foreign actors, to undermine our democratic institutions are a direct threat to the U.S. and will not be tolerated,” the statement noted, including a hotline for anyone with more information on the issue to respond.
The announcement comes one month after the FBI confirmed that the Trump campaign had been hacked by an Iranian-backed group.
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social in August to share the news with his followers.
“We were just informed by Microsoft Corporation that one of our many websites was hacked by the Iranian Government – Never a nice thing to do!” Trump said. “They were only able to get publicly available information but, nevertheless, they shouldn’t be doing anything of this nature.”
“Iran and others will stop at nothing, because our Government is Weak and Ineffective, but it won’t be for long,” he continued. “What Iran doesn’t realize is that I will make the World a better and safer place, and that’s good for them, also!”