Washington: An Iranian-linked hacking group, accused of intercepting emails from U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign, has reportedly succeeded in distributing stolen communications after initial rejections from mainstream media outlets. Over recent weeks, these hackers, reportedly working under the alias “Robert,” have shared Trump campaign emails with a U.S. Democratic political operative, who subsequently posted the materials on the website of his political action committee, American Muckrakers, and with independent journalists. One journalist posted some documents on the platform Substack, revealing internal discussions within Trump’s campaign and communications with advisors.
A Peek into Election Interference Operations
The hackers’ activities, traced by Reuters, provide a rare insight into election interference tactics. The hackers, allegedly part of the Iranian group known as Mint Sandstorm or APT42, are accused by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) of targeting Trump campaign staffers between May and June, using a fake persona to infiltrate accounts by compromising passwords. The DOJ’s indictment connects the hackers to Iran’s Basij paramilitary force, though Iran’s UN mission has dismissed the allegations as “fundamentally unfounded.”
Privacy, Security Concerns Rise
David Wheeler, founder of American Muckrakers, insists that the documents he shared are authentic, serving the public interest by exposing what he describes as the campaign’s “desperation” leading up to the 2024 election. Wheeler has avoided detailing the source’s origins, asserting confidentiality over the identity of his contact.
Trump’s campaign, addressing the allegations, condemned Iran’s alleged involvement, asserting that “journalists reprinting the stolen documents are aiding America’s enemies.” Ironically, Trump encouraged foreign involvement in U.S. elections during his 2016 campaign, when he called on Russia to “find” emails related to Hillary Clinton.
Hackers’ Outreach and Media Responses
The group initiated their outreach under the alias “Robert” from the email noswamp@aol.com, contacting several media outlets with promises of sensitive information. Their outreach included Politico, The Washington Post, and The New York Times, offering campaign research on potential vice presidential candidates such as JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Doug Burgum. Although the documents were verified as authentic, major news outlets chose not to publish them, citing concerns over the origin of the materials rather than their content.
The hackers’ account was deactivated by Yahoo, which cooperated with the FBI to trace the accounts to the Iranian hackers. Notably, “Robert” suggested using Signal, an encrypted messaging app, for future communications—a method often more difficult for law enforcement to track.
Targeting Trump for Soleimani’s Killing
Iranian hackers’ interference efforts reportedly center around undermining Trump, viewed by Iranian leaders as responsible for the 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. Despite extensive coverage, the leaks so far have not significantly impacted the Trump campaign’s public image.
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American Muckrakers’ Involvement
Since late September, American Muckrakers has published internal Trump emails. Active since 2021, this PAC has garnered small-dollar donations to share sensitive information about prominent Republicans. The group publicly appealed to “Robert” on social media to bypass major news outlets, asking him to send leaks directly to them. In an October 4 release, American Muckrakers shared a document allegedly detailing a financial arrangement between Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s legal team, though Kennedy’s lawyer declined to confirm the details.
Muckrakers also leaked communications related to North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson and Florida representative Anna Paulina Luna, both Trump allies. In one message, an advisor sought guidance following a scandal involving Robinson. Both Robinson and Luna’s teams declined to comment.
FBI, Substack, and the Foreign Influence Warning
Only a few independent journalists, such as Ken Klippenstein, decided to publish the stolen material, with Klippenstein confirming the authenticity of documents shared with him. The FBI warned several journalists that “Robert” is allegedly part of a “foreign malign influence operation.” Reuters acknowledged receiving notifications from the FBI, though an official spokesperson declined further comment.
David Wheeler of American Muckrakers has signaled his intent to continue publishing “authentic and relevant” Trump-related leaks, emphasizing his commitment to sharing what he considers crucial information with the public.
