The Biden administration has accused Russia of interfering in the 2024 US presidential election by spreading propaganda and disinformation through state-run media outlets, including RT, and by creating fake news websites that impersonated American news organizations. The Justice Department has unsealed indictments against two Russian-based RT employees and seized 32 internet domains used by Moscow for its influence campaign.
The Biden administration on Wednesday unleashed a barrage of accusations against Russia, alleging that Moscow is actively attempting to meddle in the 2024 US presidential election through a variety of covert tactics aimed at influencing American voters.
Attorney General Merrick Garland, flanked by FBI Director Christopher Wray and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, announced that prosecutors had unsealed an indictment in the Southern District of New York charging two Russian-based employees of RT, a state-controlled media outlet, with "conspiring to commit money laundering and to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act."
Biden Accuses Russia of Meddling in 2024 Election through State Media and Doppelganger Websites
Garland revealed that the defendants, who worked for RT's American affiliate, T&R Productions, allegedly orchestrated a $10 million scheme to fund and direct a Tennessee-based company to publish and disseminate content that was favorable to the Russian government. This content, often consistent with Russia's propaganda objectives, was shared by social media influencers in an attempt to amplify US domestic divisions and weaken opposition to Russia's war in Ukraine.
In a separate action, the Justice Department seized 32 internet domains that the Russian government and its proxies had utilized for their covert campaign to influence the election. These websites were designed to mimic prominent US news organizations such as the Washington Post and Fox News, but in reality, they were disseminating Russian government propaganda aimed at reducing international support for Ukraine, bolstering pro-Russian policies, and swaying voters in the United States and elsewhere.
Biden Accuses Russia of Meddling in 2024 Election through State Media and Doppelganger Websites
According to the indictment, Russia's influence campaign was code-named "doppelganger," and internal Kremlin documents referred to the content as "bogus stories disguised as newsworthy events." The US Treasury Department also designated 10 individuals and two entities as part of its coordinated response to Russia's malign interference efforts.
When contacted by Fox News Digital, RT responded with a series of flippant remarks, mocking the accusations as clichés and claiming that the allegations were not taken seriously in Russia. However, Attorney General Garland emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that the matter would be treated with utmost seriousness and that the Justice Department would pursue the perpetrators accordingly.
Biden Accuses Russia of Meddling in 2024 Election through State Media and Doppelganger Websites
FBI Director Wray warned foreign adversaries against attempting to interfere in US elections. "Knock it off," he declared. "As long as adversaries keep trying to influence and interfere in our society, and our democratic processes, they're going to keep running into the FBI."
The Justice Department previously required RT to register as a "foreign agent" in 2017, recognizing that the organization acted as an agent for the Russian government and produced English-language programming that was broadcast both on cable networks and online.
Biden Accuses Russia of Meddling in 2024 Election through State Media and Doppelganger Websites
Former Defense Intelligence Agency officer Rebekah Koffler has described RT and other Russian propaganda outlets as part of Moscow's ongoing cyberwarfare campaign against the West. She emphasized that Russia's propaganda efforts extend beyond times of conflict, constantly maligning the United States and misrepresenting its foreign policy objectives to tilt the playing field in Russia's favor.
Koffler believes that shutting down RT's operations in the United States would be an appropriate response to Russia's influence campaign, as the channel is solely intended to influence American public opinion and present events from a pro-Russian perspective.
The Biden administration's accusations and the Justice Department's indictments mark a significant escalation in efforts to counter Russian interference in US elections. It remains to be seen whether these actions will deter Russia from continuing its malign activities, but the administration has made it clear that it will not tolerate foreign attempts to subvert American democracy.
