In an effort to interfere with the 2024 U.S. election, Iranian hackers sent unsolicited emails to individuals associated with Joe Biden’s campaign, offering information stolen from Donald Trump’s campaign, according to the FBI and other federal agencies on Wednesday.
Officials noted there is no evidence that the recipients responded to the emails, and several media organizations that were also contacted chose not to publish the stolen material. The emails were regarded by recipients as phishing attempts or spam, and there is no evidence the origin of the emails was known by the recipients.
This development highlights a continuing pattern of Iranian interference in U.S. elections. The FBI and federal agencies have linked a hack-and-leak operation last month to Tehran. This incident is part of a broader effort by U.S. officials to publicize foreign adversaries' attempts to disrupt the election, with measures being taken including sanctions, criminal charges, and public advisories.
The U.S. government’s response in 2024 contrasts sharply with its approach in 2016. The Iranian emails, sent in late June and early July, included excerpts of non-public material from Trump’s campaign. Officials have emphasized that both the Trump campaign hack and the attempted breach of Biden’s campaign were aimed at undermining voter confidence and fostering discord.
Politico, The New York Times, and The Washington Post were reportedly leaked sensitive Trump campaign documents, but none have disclosed details about the content. The emails, traced back to an anonymous AOL account, contained a dossier on Republican VP nominee, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, dated months before Trump selected him as his running mate. Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned Iran's interference, accusing the nation of trying to aid Harris.
Iran, which has been hostile to Trump’s policies, including his withdrawal from the nuclear deal and the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, is seen as opposing Trump's re-election.
