12 Russians charged over hacking all the way through US election

Image: Hillary Clinton was defeated at the 2016 election

By Ajay Nair, news reporter

A dozen Russians have been charged with hacking Democratic Party emails during the 2016 US presidential election.

Rod Rosenstein, the deputy US attorney general, announced the indictments against the intelligence officers as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged collusion between Donald Trump's presidential campaign and Russia to help him secure a victory.

The 12 Russian officers are accused of hacking into the computer networks of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) as well as Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

Mr Rosenstein said the accused agents had stolen information on 500,000 American voters after hacking a state US election board.

The investigation had already seen 20 people and three companies charged in relation to the allegations.

They include four former aides to President Trump's campaign and the White House, and 13 Russians who allegedly participated in a hidden social media campaign to sway public opinion during the election.

Image: Mr Rosenstein said there would 'always be adversaries' exacerbating differences

"The internet allows foreign adversaries to attack Americans in new and unexpected ways," said Mr Rosenstein, who added that he briefed Mr Trump on the indictments.

"Free and fair elections are hard-fought and contentious and there will always be adversaries who work to exacerbate domestic differences and try to confuse, divide and conquer us."

However, he also said there was no allegation that any hacking had changed the vote count or that any Americans were knowingly in communication with the Russian agents.

A Kremlin aide has since aired concerns about the charges and the confiscation of Russian diplomatic property in the US.

Speaking ahead of Mr Trump meeting with Vladimir Putin on Monday, they said Russia was ready to look at the facts - "if there are any" - relating to the alleged Russian interference.

Prominent Democrat Nancy Pelosi has since called for the US president to demand a "comprehensive" agreement with Mr Putin that Russia will "cease their ongoing attacks on our democracy".

"Failure to stand up to Putin would constitute a profound betrayal of the constitution and our democracy," she added.

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said Russia had been "the most aggressive" foreign actor targeting the US, adding that the "warning signs" were there.

More from US

• LIVE: Trump meets Queen in UK visit highlight

• LIVE: 'I wish this was Fake News' – Thousands protest against Trump

• Donald Trump: Theresa May's Brexit plan will 'kill' US trade deal

• Backpedalling Donald Trump tries to warm up a cooling special relationship

• Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay £3.6bn in talc asbestos cancer case

• What Trump really thinks about Theresa May... and the Queen

"The system is blinking and it is why I believe we are at a critical point," he said.

More follows...

Original Article

Technology

March 14, 2019