In September 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an indictment against three Iranian nationals—Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri, and Yasar Balaghi—charging them with hacking into the presidential campaign of former President Donald Trump. The trio, identified as members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), allegedly conducted a "hack-and-leak" operation aimed at undermining Trump's re-election efforts and eroding public confidence in the U.S. electoral system.
According to the indictment, the accused began their cyber activities in January 2020, targeting U.S. government officials, media personnel, and individuals associated with political campaigns. By May 2024, they had successfully compromised the email accounts of Trump campaign officials, obtaining sensitive materials such as debate preparation documents and opposition research on potential vice-presidential candidates. This stolen information was then disseminated to media outlets and individuals believed to be linked to the Biden-Harris campaign.
The Justice Department has charged the defendants with multiple offenses, including wire fraud, identity theft, and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that the American electoral process should be determined by its citizens, free from foreign interference.
In response to these actions, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the accused individuals, and the State Department offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to their capture. This case highlights the ongoing challenges posed by foreign cyber threats to the integrity of U.S. elections.
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