On Wednesday, the United States indicted two employees of Russia's RT and imposed sanctions on its top editors, accusing them of attempting to influence the 2024 US presidential election. The Treasury Department's sanctions target 10 individuals and two entities, including RT's editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonovna Simonyan, and deputy Elizaveta Yuryevna Brodskaia.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen emphasized the US government's commitment to holding state-sponsored actors accountable for activities that undermine public trust in US institutions. She reiterated Treasury's unwavering dedication to protecting democratic principles and the integrity of election systems.
Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that two RT employees based in Russia have been indicted in New York for money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act. They are alleged to have funded a Tennessee-based company to spread content favorable to the Russian government and hired US-based social media influencers to amplify content that aligns with Russia's interests in exacerbating domestic divisions in the US.
RT dismissed the US allegations as 'hackneyed cliches' on its Telegram channel. Meanwhile, Garland revealed that the Justice Department has seized 32 internet domains used by the Russian government in a covert campaign to interfere with and influence US elections. He also stated that members of President Vladimir Putin's inner circle directed Russian public relations companies to promote disinformation and state-sponsored narratives to influence the 2024 US presidential election.
The US has long accused Russia of attempting to influence US elections, dating back to the 2016 contest between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The Treasury Department identified Simonyan as a key figure in Russian government efforts to exert malign influence, while Brodskaia is reported to have direct communication with President Putin and other government officials. Following the 2020 election, US intelligence officials accused Putin of authorizing influence operations aimed at favoring Trump. US officials have consistently warned about foreign interference, with Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines highlighting Russia, China, and Iran as the most active threats, though she assured that the government is well-prepared to defend American democracy from foreign influence.
