FBI Investigating After Trump Campaign Said Sensitive Documents Were Hacked by Iran
The FBI has launched an investigation into claims that sensitive documents from Donald Trump’s presidential campaign were compromised in a cyber attack, reportedly linked to Iranian hackers. This development comes in the wake of the Trump campaign’s announcement that it had fallen victim to an intrusion orchestrated by Iran.
In a concise statement, the FBI confirmed its involvement: “We can confirm the FBI is investigating this matter.” Details are sparse, but sources suggest that the Biden-Harris campaign may also have been targeted in the same suspected Iranian cyber operation. This information, however, is being kept under wraps as it pertains to an ongoing investigation.
The Trump campaign has not provided concrete proof linking Iran to the breach. Their allegations surfaced shortly after Microsoft published a report outlining attempts by foreign actors to meddle in the 2024 U.S. elections. This report included a mention of an Iranian military intelligence unit sending a spear-phishing email to a senior campaign official using a compromised account.
Adding to the intrigue, Politico reported that it received emails on July 22 from an anonymous AOL account identified only as “Robert.” These emails included what appeared to be a dossier on Republican vice-presidential nominee, Ohio Senator JD Vance, dated February 23—nearly five months before Vance was officially chosen as Trump’s running mate.
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung condemned the incident, stating, “These documents were obtained illegally” and alleging that the aim was to disrupt the 2024 election and create confusion within the democratic process.
In response, the Biden-Harris campaign assured that it actively safeguards against cyber threats but refrained from commenting on specific security breaches or state-sponsored attacks.
Iran’s UN mission has denied any involvement in the alleged cyber attack. However, Iran has a history of engaging in hacking campaigns, particularly targeting its adversaries in the Middle East and beyond. Tehran has also expressed animosity towards Trump, especially following the 2020 drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani.
Microsoft’s report highlights that foreign interference in the 2024 election has increased over the past six months. Initially, Russian operations led the charge, but Iranian activities have since gained prominence. Unlike Russian efforts, which often focus on influencing voter sentiment, Iranian operations have been noted for their timing, appearing later in the election cycle and targeting the electoral process itself.
Microsoft’s analysis suggests that both Iran and Russia are heavily involved in election-related cyber operations as the 2024 election approaches, indicating a complex and evolving landscape of cyber threats against U.S. democratic processes.