US accuses Russia of using state media to spread disinformation ahead of elections

Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray on Wednesday accused Russia of conducting “covert” disinformation campaigns to improperly interfere in the 2024 election, echoing concerns about similar efforts that peaked during the 2016 presidential election.

In a press conference, Garland described the two influence campaigns, which led to an indictment and the seizure of 32 Internet domains, as part of an “empire of secret projects aimed at influencing public opinion in the West.”

The indictment alleges that two employees of Russia's state-controlled broadcaster RT led a $10 million plot to spread Kremlin propaganda to an American audience via social media.

The content was intended to “sow discord and chaos” and contained “commentary on events and issues in the United States, such as immigration, inflation, and other issues related to domestic and foreign policy,” according to the Justice Department..

The other plot involved dozens of Internet domains that “spread Russian government propaganda aimed at reducing international support for Ukraine, bolstering pro-Russian policies and interests, and influencing voters in U.S. and foreign elections, including the 2024 U.S. presidential election.”

“We will not tolerate attempts by authoritarian regimes to exploit our democratic system of government,” Garland said. “We will relentlessly aggressively counter attempts by Russia and Iran, as well as China or other foreign malign actors, to interfere in our elections and undermine our democracy.”

When asked what his message was to nations involved in attempts to interfere, Wray replied bluntly: “Stop it.”

“As long as adversaries continue to try to influence and interfere with our society and our democratic processes, they will continue to encounter the FBI,” he said.

The FBI director added that RT has been a propaganda arm of the Kremlin for years, but since last year it has been more successful in engaging American influencers to spread its message under the guise of “independent news.”

The Russian media said in a statement read by a reporter at the briefing: “2016 wants its clichés back.”

Allegations that the Trump team colluded with the Kremlin in the run-up to the 2016 election led to two special counsel investigations. However, neither investigation confirmed allegations of a successful influence campaign.

Both Garland and Wray are members of the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force, which has been briefing the U.S. public on various interference attempts ahead of the November election.

Garland's announcement was followed by sanctions from the US Treasury Department against RT's management. The two employees of the broadcaster were charged with money laundering and failure to register as a foreign agent.

US intelligence agencies had previously warned that Iranian influence efforts were aimed at preventing former President Donald Trump from returning to the White House, but Garland stressed that Tehran was trying to interfere in the presidential campaigns of both parties.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a speech last month that Russia posed the greatest threat to the election and pointed to the targeted restrictions on voters from swing states.

Wednesday's press conference also addressed various “domestic threats” to the election – including shootings, bomb threats and death notices for poll workers and election officials in states such as New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado.

Each of the cases cited by Garland resulted in an indictment in federal court.

“These cases are a warning: If you threaten to harm or kill a poll worker, official or volunteer, the Department of Justice will find you. And we will hold you accountable,” he said.

“Threats against election workers pose threats to democracy itself.”