US Charges 4 Americans, 3 Russians in 'Malign' Influence Campaign

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Image copyright: Reuters [via Al Jazeera]

The Facts

  • The US Dept. of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday filed new charges against four Americans and three Russians for allegedly working on behalf of Russia's Federal Security Service, the FSB, to "conduct a multi-year foreign malign influence campaign in the United States."

  • The superseding indictment from a federal grand jury in Tampa, Florida, adds further charges against Moscow resident Aleksandr Viktorovich Ionov — previously indicted in July — and names FSB officers Aleksey Borisovich Sukhodolov and Yegor Sergeyevich Popov for the first time. Allegedly conspiring with the FSB officers, Ionov is accused of recruiting Florida residents "to participate in the influence campaign and act as agents of Russia in the United States."

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Russia has previously been found to be involved in attempts to sow discord and interfere in US elections. The Dept. of Justice is right to take swift action and bring the alleged perpetrators of this latest attempt to undermine American democracy to justice.

Newsweek

Establishment-critical narrative

Past claims of alleged Russian interference in US elections have been massively overblown to suit a political agenda. It's likely that the same is true of these latest allegations.

American Spectator

Metaculus Prediction

Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO