A report by USA TODAY states that former President Donald Trump's campaign has accused "hostile" foreign sources of hacking and leaking internal documents and communications.
Campaign spokesman Steven Cheung attributed the hack to foreign sources hostile to the United States, suggesting it was an attempt to interfere with the 2024 election. The campaign cited a recent Microsoft report warning of increased digital election-meddling activity by Iran.
The breach was first reported by Politico, which received the documents from an anonymous source. According to Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, the hackers are believed to be associated with Iran, though he did not provide concrete evidence linking the cyberattack directly to the country.
The campaign pointed to a recent report from Microsoft as potential evidence. The report highlighted increasing digital interference by Iran, including a spear phishing attack that targeted a presidential campaign. Microsoft confirmed that it had notified the individuals and organizations targeted in these recent cyberattacks.
Cheung expressed concern over the breach, stating that the stolen documents were intended to cause chaos in the U.S. election process. He also warned that any media outlets publishing these documents would be aiding foreign adversaries.
Further details emerged when Politico reported that it had been receiving emails from an anonymous AOL account since July 22. The emails contained what appeared to be internal communications from senior Trump campaign officials, including a research dossier on Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance dated February 23.
While the Trump campaign has raised alarms over Iranian interference, Politico and USA TODAY have been unable to independently verify the hackers' identities or motives. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, while having issued warnings about Iran's attempts to meddle in U.S. elections, declined to comment on the specifics of this incident.
The timing of the hack and leak is particularly concerning to the Trump campaign, which noted that Microsoft’s report coincided with the announcement of Trump’s running mate on July 15. The campaign believes this could indicate a targeted attempt to undermine their political strategy.
Christopher Krebs, the former head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), weighed in on the issue via social media. He likened the current situation to the 2016 election, during which Trump famously invited Russian hackers to find Hillary Clinton’s missing emails. Krebs warned of continued efforts to exploit divisions within American society and to disrupt the integrity of the election process.
This incident is a reminder of the ongoing cybersecurity challenges that have plagued U.S. elections in recent years. The alleged involvement of a foreign nation, particularly Iran, echoes past concerns about the vulnerability of political campaigns to cyberattacks.
In response to the breach, the Trump campaign has been quick to denounce the actions of the hackers and to criticize any media outlets that might publish the stolen documents. Cheung’s statements reflect a deep concern over the potential impact of this leak on the election.
The ramifications of this breach could extend beyond the immediate political landscape. As the 2024 election draws closer, the possibility of further cyberattacks looms large, with foreign adversaries seemingly intent on influencing the outcome.
The Trump campaign has accused foreign hackers of leaking internal documents and communications to disrupt the 2024 U.S. presidential election. These documents were reportedly obtained by a news organization from an anonymous source and are believed to have been sourced from hostile foreign entities. Campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung cited a recent Microsoft report indicating increased Iranian cyber activities targeting U.S. elections, suggesting Iran's involvement in the hack.
