Federal law enforcement agencies have seized 32 Russian-backed websites that prosecutors say were designed to sow disinformation and discord ahead of 2024 elections and boost Donald Trump’s campaign.
Separately, two employees of Russia’s state-controlled media network RT have been criminally charged with allegedly launching a $10 million propaganda scheme that enlisted popular right-wing social media influencers.
The allegations revealed in warrants and unsealed indictments are evidence of Russia’s attempts to “engage in a covert campaign to interfere and influence the outcome of our country’s elections,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in remarks on Wednesday.
The scope of the alleged efforts “make clear the ends to which the Russian government — including at its highest levels — is willing to go to undermine our democratic process,” Garland said.
The aim of those alleged actions, he said, is “securing Russia’s preferred outcome” this November, according to Garland.
He added that “Russia’s preferences have not changed” from 2016 and …