The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into Americans with ties to Russian state media, in what they claim is an effort to prevent Russian influence in U.S. elections, according to a report by The New York Times on Wednesday.
FBI agents raided the homes of former United Nations weapons inspector Scott Ritter on August 7 and Dimitri K. Simes, a 2016 Trump campaign adviser, on August 13. Both men have ties to Russian state television networks, with Ritter writing for RT and Simes hosting a talk show on Channel One.
The investigation reportedly focuses on potential violations of foreign lobbying disclosure laws and economic sanctions against Russia. Simes, a Soviet-born U.S. citizen and adviser to Trump’s 2016 campaign, denied the allegations, calling the probe an “attempt to intimidate” those who oppose official U.S. policies. Ritter, who has defended Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, suggested his outspoken views made him a target of national security concerns.
The investigation comes after the DOJ revealed in July that it had uncovered a Russian influence campaign aimed at using AI-generated social media bots to undermine international support for Ukraine and increase political divisions in the U.S., Europe, and Israel.
The DOJ has not commented on the investigation.
