SPECIAL REPORT
13 Russians charged with interfering in 2016 election
The U.S. on Friday charged 13 Russians with interfering in the 2016 presidential election, an escalation of tensions between Washington and Moscow just days before a high-stakes summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The charges, announced by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, accuse the 13 Russians of engaging in a “sweeping and systematic” effort to interfere in the election, including hacking Democratic computer systems and spreading disinformation on social media.
The indictment alleges that the Russians were acting on behalf of the Russian government, and that they were “part of a larger Russian effort to sow discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy.”
The charges are the most significant action taken by the U.S. against Russia over its alleged interference in the 2016 election. They come just days before Trump is scheduled to meet with Putin in Helsinki, Finland, for a summit that is expected to focus on a range of issues, including the ongoing investigation into Russian election meddling.
The indictment alleges that the Russians hacked into the computer systems of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), and stole emails and other data that was later released to the public through WikiLeaks.
The indictment also alleges that the Russians created fake social media accounts and used them to spread disinformation and propaganda aimed at supporting Trump and denigrating his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.
The charges against the 13 Russians are part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Mueller has already indicted 25 Russians and three Russian companies in connection with the investigation.
The charges are likely to further strain relations between the U.S. and Russia, which have been at a low point since the Cold War. Trump has repeatedly dismissed the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election, and he has been criticized for his reluctance to confront Putin over the issue.
The summit between Trump and Putin is scheduled to take place on Monday, July 16. It is expected to be a contentious meeting, and the charges against the 13 Russians are likely to add to the tensions..
