The Iranian Cyber Breach of Trump’s Campaign: What You Need to Know
Details emerged over the weekend of a suspected Iranian cyber breach of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign, potentially leading to the theft of internal campaign documents. The FBI is investigating the matter and trying to infiltrate President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign, which became Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign after Biden dropped out of the race.
What Happened?
Trump’s presidential campaign said on Saturday it had been hacked and sensitive internal documents stolen and distributed. It claimed that Iranian actors were to blame. Politico, New York Times, and the Washington Post received leaked internal Trump campaign documents, but the details were not disclosed.
Why Does Trump Blame Iran?
The Trump campaign pointed to a report by Microsoft detailing Iranian attempts to infiltrate the June presidential campaign. While no concrete evidence has been provided, Iran has been suspected of hacking campaigns in the past. The Iranian government denied involvement in the cyber breach.
Was Harris Targeted, Too?
The Biden-Harris campaign was also targeted by suspected Iranian cyber intrusions. At least three staffers were targeted in phishing emails, but no evidence of successful attempts were found. The FBI began investigating the cyber incident in June, and intelligence officials believe Iran was behind the attempts.
Experts warn that cyberattacks to influence elections are a serious threat and should be taken seriously. As the investigation continues, the impact of the Iranian cyber breach on the U.S. election remains to be seen.
Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer, David Klepper, and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report. The Associated Press receives support from multiple private foundations to bolster its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy.
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