Donald Trump’s campaign has reported a significant breach in its internal communications, claiming that Iranian operatives were behind the hack. This development has raised concerns about foreign interference in the 2024 US presidential election.
Details of the Hack
US news website Politico disclosed on Saturday that it had received internal campaign documents, including research on Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance. A spokesperson for Trump’s campaign confirmed to the BBC that these documents were illegally obtained by “foreign sources hostile to the United States.” Despite the allegations, Iranian officials have denied any involvement in the hack.
Verification and Response
Politico has verified the authenticity of the documents, but the BBC has not independently confirmed these claims. The Trump campaign has not provided specific evidence linking the document leak to Iranian hackers or the Iranian government.
Microsoft’s Findings
This revelation comes shortly after Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) reported that Iranian hackers targeted an unnamed US presidential candidate’s campaign in June. According to MTAC, the campaign received a spear phishing email designed to deceive the recipient into clicking a malicious link. The MTAC report highlighted a significant increase in influence activities by Iranian actors over the past several months.
Campaign’s Reaction
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, stated that the hacking attempt coincided with the timing of Trump’s selection of a vice-presidential nominee. Cheung asserted, “The Iranians know that President Trump will stop their reign of terror just like he did in his first four years in the White House.” He emphasised that the hack was intended to interfere with the upcoming 2024 election.
Iran’s Denial
In response to these allegations, a spokesman for Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations told the Washington Post, “We do not accord any credence to such reports. The Iranian Government neither possesses nor harbours any intent or motive to interfere in the United States presidential election.”
Details from Politico
Politico revealed that it began receiving emails in late July from an individual using the pseudonym “Robert” and an AOL email account. The 271-page document on JD Vance was based on publicly available information, detailing Vance’s past record and statements. Another part of the email included research on Florida Senator Marco Rubio, another vice-presidential contender.
Routine Campaign Research
Presidential campaigns often conduct thorough research on potential vice-presidential nominees to uncover any potentially damaging information. Politico reported that some of Vance’s prior criticisms of Trump were identified in the document as “potential vulnerabilities.”
Historical Context
Microsoft’s report noted that Iranian cyber-enabled influence operations have been a consistent feature of the last three US election cycles. A similar report was released during the 2020 election, indicating that Iranian hackers targeted presidential campaigns at that time as well.
Broader Security Concerns
US security sources have also highlighted an Iranian plot to assassinate Trump, unrelated to the recent attempted shooting in Pennsylvania. Additionally, the US Justice Department charged a Pakistani man with alleged ties to Iran, accused of plotting to assassinate US officials, potentially including the former president.
Further Reading
