The Biden administration plans to publicly accuse Russia on Wednesday of orchestrating a sustained effort to influence the 2024 US elections through Kremlin-run media and other online platforms, according to six sources familiar with the matter.
The move will include a series of actions aimed at countering the Kremlin’s influence, with the White House expected to issue a public condemnation and the Justice Department announcing law enforcement measures against the covert Russian campaign.
RT, the Russian state media network, is at the center of the US announcement, as officials view it as a critical tool in Moscow’s propaganda efforts. The disinformation campaign is reportedly being pushed through both American and foreign voices, sources told CNN.
The US government has increasingly viewed Russia as a prominent foreign influence threat, especially following last month’s accusations that Iran had attempted to hack both the Trump and Biden-Harris campaigns. Another Russian company, the Social Design Agency, is also expected to be named in the announcement. This organization has already been sanctioned by the Treasury Department for running “fake news” sites in Europe on behalf of the Russian government.
RT, formerly known as Russia Today, operates television and online platforms worldwide to promote the Kremlin’s agenda. In 2017, the Justice Department forced RT America to register as a foreign agent after US intelligence concluded the media outlet contributed to Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Wednesday’s expected announcement would be the second major effort in recent months by the Biden administration to limit RT’s influence. In July, the Justice Department accused an RT employee of participating in a scheme that used around 1,000 social media accounts to pose as US residents and spread disinformation about the war in Ukraine and other issues.
The Biden administration’s warnings come as foreign operatives, particularly from Russia, Iran, and China, continue attempts to influence US elections. Despite these efforts, US officials stress that the integrity of the voting process remains well-protected. Jen Easterly, director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, noted this week that election infrastructure has never been more secure, with 97% of registered voters in the 2024 election expected to cast their ballots in jurisdictions with verified paper records.
“There is no evidence of successful efforts — foreign or domestic — to swing an American election by changing vote tallies,” Easterly added.
