WASHINGTON – The Justice Department on Friday charged 12 Russian officals with federal crimes for allegedly interfering with the 2016 presidential election, the first the charges in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into the 2016 election to directly accused Russia of trying to influence the election.
The officials , all members of Russia’s foreign military intelligence agency, are accused of hacking into the computer networks of the Democratic National Committee, Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, according to the indictment
The officials obtained information pertaining to the election from U.S. computers and released information gained from the hacked networks on the internet using multiple fake identities. They are charged with multiple counts of aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to launder money and criminal conspiracy. They also stand accused of accessing computers without authorization and with the intent to damage the computers and release stolen documents.
The indictment comes just days before President Donald Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland on Monday. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein briefed Trump on the charges against the Russian nationals prior to the public announcement. He declined to comment about the president’s reaction or response.
When asked about the timing of the indictment so close to Trump’s meeting with Putin, Rosenstein said there was sufficient evidence to present the indictment now.
Rosenstein added that there are no allegations of any American citizens committing a crime or knowingly communicating with these Russian officials. The indictment also maintains that there is no evidence that the alleged conduct of the Russian officials altered the changed the outcome of the 2016 election or altered the vote count.
“The blame for election interference,” Rosenstein said, “belongs to those who committed interference.”
Officials in unit 26165 of the Russian spy agency, known as the GRU, sent fraudulent emails to volunteers and employees working for Clinton’s presidential campaign in a process known as spear-phishing, to obtain usernames and passwords. They used the information to steal email content and hack into other computers. They used the same tactic on the DNC and the DCCC, and the Russians were able to monitor the computer activity of dozens of employees and implant malicious software in addition to stealing more emails and documents.
A second GRU unit, 74455, coordinated with 26165 to release the stolen documents online. The officials registered the domain “DCLeaks.com” and released thousands of emails and documents while posing as “American hacktivists” on the website. They also created Facebook and Twitter accounts with fake names to promote the website.
Officials in the two units created another fake account, “Guccifer 2.0,” in June 2016 after the Russian government was publicly accused of hacking into DNC and DCCC computer systems. The GRU officials used a Moscow-based server to pose as a lone Romanian hacker in an effort to deflect allegations against the Russian government.
“The Internet allows foreign adversaries to attack America in new and unexpected ways,” Rosenstein said in a statement from the Department of Justice.
The 12 Russians allegedly conspired to steal voter data stored on computers belonging to state boards of elections, secretaries of state and U.S. companies that kept voting data.
The GRU agents used a network of computers around the world, including the United States, and bought accounts, domains and servers with over $95,000 worth of cryptocurrency to avoid detection.
Rosenstein added that there are no allegations of any American citizens committing a crime or knowingly communicating with these Russian officials. The indictment also maintains that there is no evidence that the alleged conduct of the Russian officials altered the changed the outcome of the 2016 election or altered the vote count.
“The blame for election interference,” Rosenstein said, “belongs to those who committed interference.”