The Biden administration has announced a series of actions to counter a Russian government-backed effort aimed at influencing the 2024 US presidential election. The measures include criminal charges against two Russian nationals, sanctions on 10 individuals and entities, and the seizure of 32 internet domains, according to an official announcement on Wednesday.

US Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco stated that, under Russian President Vladimir Putin's orders, three Russian companies created fake social media profiles to spread false information. One of these companies produced internal documents showing that part of the operation’s goal was to support Donald Trump or the Republican Party's presidential nominee, according to an FBI affidavit.

Separately, two employees of RT, a Russian state media outlet, were indicted in a US court. They are accused of funnelling nearly $10 million to establish a front company in Tennessee, which produced online content aimed at dividing Americans. The content targeted millions of news consumers with "hidden Russian government messaging," US Attorney General Merrick Garland said.

These actions mark the Biden administration’s most significant public response to alleged Russian attempts to influence US voters. Recently, the US also accused Iran of attempting to hack both the Trump and Biden-Harris campaigns, but Russia remains a key foreign influence threat in US elections, according to sources.

One of the three Russian companies involved, Social Design Agency (SDA), is accused of running fake news websites in Europe for the Russian government. The US Treasury Department had previously sanctioned SDA for similar activities.

An FBI affidavit detailing the case describes the broader Kremlin-backed effort to spread fake news, particularly aimed at politicians supporting Ukraine. The documents show that Russia targeted US voters in six swing states with disinformation on topics like "job loss for white Americans" and the "threat of crime from Ukrainian immigrants."

In addition, the two RT employees allegedly worked to push pro-Russian narratives, favouring Trump and other candidates seen as friendly to Kremlin interests. The US Justice Department identified the Tennessee-based company used in the scheme as Tenet Media, which was linked to right-wing commentators with millions of subscribers on YouTube and other platforms.

RT, formerly known as Russia Today, operates globally to promote the Kremlin’s agenda. US intelligence officials have long connected the outlet to Russian interference in US elections. In 2017, RT America was forced to register as a foreign agent after it was revealed that it played a role in the 2016 election meddling.

Wednesday’s announcement follows a similar effort in July when the Biden administration accused another RT employee of running a disinformation scheme related to the Ukraine war. Kremlin representatives denied these allegations.

Efforts to influence US elections have been growing since Russia’s interference in 2016, which included hacking and leaking Democratic Party documents to undermine Hillary Clinton’s campaign. In 2024, US officials are also on alert for potential interference from Iran and China, who are using similar tactics to target American voters.

However, US officials emphasise that, despite these foreign efforts, the integrity of the US election system remains strong, with 97% of registered voters in 2024 expected to cast ballots in jurisdictions with verified paper records.

Image source: CNBC