Iran Stole Trump’s Campaign Materials, Used Them to Bait Democrats, Media to Influence, Undermine U.S. Presidential Election: ODNI, FBI, CISA

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency have accused Iran of using campaign materials of former President Donald Trump to undermine and influence the U.S. 2024 presidential elections.

“Since the 19 August 2024 joint ODNI, FBI, and CISA public statement on Iranian Election Influence Efforts, the FBI has learned additional details about Iran’s efforts to sow discord and shape the outcome of U.S. elections,” a joint statement by the security agencies said on Wednesday. 

Iranian malicious cyber actors in late June and early July sent unsolicited emails to individuals then associated with President Joe Biden’s campaign, which contained an excerpt taken from stolen, non-public material from Trump’s campaign as text in the emails.

There is currently no information indicating those recipients replied. Furthermore, according to the U.S. security agencies, Iranian malicious cyber actors have continued their efforts since June to send stolen, non-public material associated with former Trump’s campaign to U.S. media organisations.

“This malicious cyber activity is the latest example of Iran’s multi-pronged approach, as noted in the joint August statement, to stoke discord and undermine confidence in our electoral process. 

“As the lead for threat response, the FBI has been tracking this activity, has been in contact with the victims, and will continue to investigate and gather information in order to pursue and disrupt the threat actors responsible,” stated the security agencies.

The statement noted that foreign actors are increasing their election influence activities as we approach November. In particular, Russia, Iran, and China are trying by some measure to exacerbate divisions in U.S. society for their own benefit, and see election periods as moments of vulnerability.

“Efforts by these, or other foreign actors, to undermine our democratic institutions are a direct threat to the U.S. and will not be tolerated,” it added.