FBI probing allegations of Iranian hackers targeting Trump campaign.
According to Microsoft, a hacking group connected to Iran has targeted a U.S. presidential campaign.
The FBI is investigating reports that hackers, potentially linked to Iran, targeted former President Donald Trump’s campaign.
Microsoft’s cyber threat assessment office released a report on Aug. 9, stating that a group known as “Mint Sandstorm” used spear-phishing emails to target a senior official in an unspecified U.S. presidential campaign in June. This assessment, conducted by the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center, suggests that Mint Sandstorm, believed to be linked to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also tried to access an account belonging to a former presidential candidate.
Trump campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, informed Politico on Aug. 10 that it was Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign that was being targeted in the cyber intrusion.
The FBI, in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times on Aug. 12, confirmed that it is currently investigating the reported hacking attack but did not provide further comments on the allegations.
Cheung mentioned to Politico that there is little specific evidence that the Trump campaign was the target of the cyber operation. He also noted that this alleged cybersecurity breach coincides with other reports of Iran targeting Trump, following the drone strike that killed IRGC Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
According to Politico, Cheung declined to confirm if the Trump campaign had reached out to Microsoft or law enforcement regarding the cybersecurity claims.
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The Epoch Times contacted Cheung for more information on the campaign’s cybersecurity evaluation.
Politico revealed that an individual named “Robert” reached out online, claiming to possess internal communications from a senior Trump campaign official. Among the documents was a 271-page research dossier on Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), who Trump selected as his running mate last month.
“Robert” allegedly refused to disclose how he obtained the communications when questioned by Politico, stating, “I suggest you don’t be curious about where I got them from. Any answer to this question will compromise me and legally restrict you from publishing them.”
Politico did not explicitly state if they believe “Robert” has any direct connection to the hacking allegations.
Last month, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released an intelligence community assessment, indicating that Iranian groups are striving to create distrust in U.S. institutions and escalate social discord. The report noted that Iranian groups use various online personas and propaganda to spread disinformation, particularly intensifying tensions over the Israel–Gaza conflict.
The intelligence community report also mentioned that Tehran is attempting to influence the presidential election to prevent outcomes that may heighten tensions with the United States.
Despite the accusations of cyber breaches targeting the Trump campaign, the Iranian mission to the United Nations denied any involvement and insisted that Iran is a victim of cyberattacks instead. They stated that Iran employs its cyber capabilities for defense and for responding appropriately to the attacks it faces.
