Iranians charged with hacking Trump campaign in effort to influence 2024 election
USA TodaySep 17
DOJ Indicts Three Iranians in Trump Campaign Hack
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The Facts
The US Department of Justice has charged three Iranian nationals in connection with the alleged "hack-and-leak" operation targeting Donald Trump's presidential campaign. They are charged with 18 counts, including wire fraud and identity theft.
Federal prosecutors didn't name Trump in the 37-page indictment unsealed on Friday — instead describing his campaign as "US Presidential Campaign 1" — but details suggest that the charges are related to the hack of Trump's campaign.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
US adversaries see election interference as a low-cost, potentially high-reward method to launch attacks against undesirable candidates, or create division and distrust. Indictments against those involved in such malicious attacks are just the first step. Western democracies must band together to defend their free and democratic societies.
Establishment-critical narrative
This is just another smear against Iran, which has no interest whatsoever in meddling in US internal affairs, let alone its presidential election. Though Donald Trump is indeed a criminal, Tehran is committed to bringing him to justice through legal means for ordering the assassination of Gen. Qasem Soleimani.