The United States Justice Department is reportedly preparing criminal charges in connection with a cyber intrusion allegedly carried out by Iranian operatives, which targeted Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. According to sources familiar with the case, the hacking attempt was part of a broader effort by Iran to influence the outcome of the upcoming November election.

While the exact timing of the charges and the identities of those being targeted remain unclear, the investigation has been linked to an FBI probe that rapidly identified the intrusion as an Iranian effort to meddle in U.S. politics. The Justice Department, working in coordination with multiple federal agencies, is taking the case seriously as part of its broader concern over foreign interference in American elections.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, who heads the department’s National Security Division, sounded the alarm on Thursday during a speech in New York City. Olsen emphasized the growing threats posed by both Russia and Iran as the election between Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris draws near. “Iran is making a greater effort to influence this year’s election than it has in prior election cycles, and that Iranian activity is growing increasingly aggressive as this election nears,” Olsen stated.

The Justice Department’s concerns are rooted in a combination of hacking efforts and covert social media campaigns orchestrated by foreign governments. These tactics are designed to manipulate public opinion and potentially disrupt the democratic process in the U.S., particularly as the nation faces an already highly charged political landscape.

This case marks yet another instance of foreign adversaries seeking to undermine American democracy by targeting election infrastructure and spreading misinformation. The potential criminal charges against those responsible for the Iranian hack signal the U.S. government’s continued determination to hold foreign actors accountable for their interference attempts.

(Credit: AP)