U.S. intelligence agencies have reported that Iranian hackers disseminated hacked information from Donald Trump’s electoral campaign to individuals associated with the Biden campaign. The FBI indicated that these unsolicited emails were sent out in late June and early July, prior to Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race.
Currently, there is no evidence suggesting that the recipients responded to these emails. U.S. officials have voiced concerns that Iran’s actions are aimed at sowing discord and undermining confidence in U.S. institutions ahead of the upcoming November elections. The tactics employed by Iranian hackers reportedly include “social engineering and other efforts” to gain direct access to both Democratic and Republican campaigns—a strategy previously utilized by both Iran and Russia in various global contexts.
The revelation comes amid heightened scrutiny regarding Trump’s security, following a second apparent assassination attempt against him at his golf course in Florida. Speaking to reporters, Trump commented on the attempts on his life, asserting that “God spared my life” and emphasizing the need to continue leading despite threats.
At a recent rally in Long Island, New York, Trump expressed gratitude for his survival and linked it to his potential to “turn this state around.” Supporters echoed concerns about Trump’s safety, with many blaming Democratic rhetoric for the increased risks he faces.
The FBI’s statement pointed out that Iranian actors have been sending stolen, non-public materials related to Trump’s campaign to U.S. media outlets since June. In response, Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt accused Iran of trying to interfere in the election to favor Kamala Harris and Biden, questioning their knowledge of the leaked materials.
Morgan Finkelstein, a spokesperson for the Harris-Walz campaign, stated that while they have cooperated with authorities regarding the hacks, they were unaware of any materials being sent directly to the campaign, labeling the outreach as potentially spam or phishing attempts.
The FBI is actively investigating the incident, maintaining contact with the victims of the hack in an effort to disrupt the responsible actors. Meanwhile, Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations has categorically denied any intent to interfere in the U.S. election.
