A new report from Politico reveals that a federal grand jury has indicted multiple Iranian nationals in connection with a hacking operation targeting Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
The federal charges stem from an Iranian cyber operation that allegedly stole internal Trump campaign communications over the summer.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the stolen materials were sent to journalists and individuals linked to President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign before Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee.
While the names of the defendants and specific charges remain under wraps, Politico reports that the indictment was approved on Thursday, and the U.S. Justice Department is expected to announce the charges shortly.
The Hack and Its Fallout
Last month, Trump’s campaign confirmed that it had been hacked after media outlets received internal campaign documents from an anonymous email account.
Among the leaked materials was a dossier on Trump’s running mate, Senator J.D. Vance. The campaign immediately blamed Tehran for the breach.
Microsoft corroborated this claim, stating that Iranian hackers had sent a spear-phishing email to a high-ranking Trump campaign official in June.
U.S. security agencies also disclosed that material stolen from the Trump campaign was later passed along to individuals working on Biden’s reelection team, some of whom remained with Vice President Kamala Harris after Biden dropped out of the race.
However, there is no indication that the Biden campaign responded to these overtures.
Foreign Interference Intensifies
This Iranian cyberattack marks a growing trend of foreign interference in U.S. elections.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division warned earlier this month that Iran’s efforts to influence the 2024 election have been more aggressive than in previous election cycles.
“Iran perceives this year’s elections to be particularly consequential in impacting Iran’s national security interests,” Olsen said, adding that Tehran’s attempts to shape the outcome have intensified.
Trump’s campaign also highlighted additional threats, stating that U.S. intelligence had informed the former president of Iran’s plots to assassinate him.
The threats are believed to be in retaliation for the 2020 U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, a move ordered by Trump.
Iranian officials have reportedly been seeking revenge ever since, and some former Trump administration officials continue to require security due to these threats.
Broader Context of Election Interference
This indictment is the latest in a string of foreign interference cases targeting U.S. elections.
In 2016, Russian operatives hacked and leaked emails from Hillary Clinton’s campaign, while running a social media campaign to stoke divisions and boost Trump’s candidacy.
China, too, has been accused of launching influence operations aimed at the U.S., and Iran has now emerged as another serious player in this arena.
The Iranian hackers responsible for this attack are unlikely to face trial, as they are believed to reside in a country without an extradition agreement with the United States.
However, officials say naming and shaming such hackers can serve as a deterrent for future attempts.
With both Russia and China also seeking to influence U.S. politics, foreign efforts to disrupt American elections show no sign of slowing.