Official announcements from the U.S. Department of Justice

Biden Administration Sanctions Russia, Seizes 32 Domains, Indicts RT Employees for Election Interference

Sep 4, 2024, 05:46 PM

The Biden administration has announced a series of actions to counter Russian efforts to interfere in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Attorney General Merrick Garland revealed that the Department of Justice has indicted two employees of the Russian state media outlet RT for covertly funding and directing a U.S. company to disseminate pro-Russian content. Additionally, the U.S. has seized 32 internet domains linked to Russian disinformation campaigns and imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and two entities. The sanctions target key figures in Russian state media, including Margarita Simonyan. The administration's actions, which involve the Treasury and State Department in a whole-of-government approach, are part of a broader strategy to combat foreign interference in U.S. elections, with intelligence agencies on high alert for similar activities from other countries, including Iran. Garland noted that Putin's inner circle directed the disinformation efforts, and emphasized the importance of balancing these actions with the First Amendment.