The FBI has launched an investigation into the alleged hacking of former President Donald Trump’s campaign, which reportedly also involves attempts to breach the email accounts of officials associated with the 2020 Biden-Harris campaign. The probe, confirmed by an FBI spokesperson on Monday, is part of a broader concern over foreign interference in U.S. elections.
FBI’s Involvement and Scope of Investigation
While the FBI has confirmed its involvement in the investigation, the agency has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the probe, including the potential suspects. The investigation gained momentum following a report by Microsoft, which detailed a “spear phishing email” sent by Iranian hackers to an official linked to an unnamed presidential campaign. This cyberattack allegedly resulted in sensitive Trump campaign documents being leaked to POLITICO, which broke the story over the weekend.
The Cybersecurity Breach
A source close to the Trump campaign confirmed that a senior campaign official’s personal email account was compromised in June, a breach that likely exposed confidential information, including opposition research on Ohio Senator J.D. Vance. This individual, who spoke on condition of anonymity, highlighted the vulnerability of the account, which was not secured with two-factor authentication, a basic cybersecurity measure.
Broader Implications and Connections to Biden-Harris Campaign
The investigation is reportedly not limited to the Trump campaign. Another person familiar with the FBI’s probe indicated that similar spear-phishing attempts were made against officials from the Biden-Harris campaign, although there is no evidence that these attempts were successful. The Biden-Harris campaign, now encompassing President Joe Biden’s current operation, stated that they are unaware of any breaches in their systems.
Roger Stone’s Involvement
In a related development, Grant Smith, an attorney for longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone, confirmed that Stone’s email account was also targeted in the phishing attempts. Smith disclosed that both Microsoft and the FBI had contacted Stone regarding the unauthorized use of his email account. Stone is reportedly cooperating with the investigation, though details remain sparse.
The Bigger Picture: Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections
This hacking incident echoes previous concerns about foreign interference in U.S. elections, reminiscent of the 2016 election when Russian hackers targeted Democratic Party officials. The Trump campaign had previously suggested that “foreign sources hostile to the United States” were behind the latest breach, linking the Microsoft report to the spear-phishing attempt on one of its aides. However, the campaign had not acknowledged the full extent of the compromise until now.
The investigation highlights the ongoing threat of foreign cyberattacks on U.S. political campaigns, with Iranian hackers now appearing to play a role in these efforts. The FBI’s probe, still in its early stages, could uncover more about the extent of foreign involvement in attempting to influence American politics through cyber means.
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