On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced a comprehensive set of actions aimed at addressing Russian efforts to influence the 2024 U.S. presidential election. These steps include criminal charges against two Russian nationals, sanctions on 10 individuals and entities, and the seizure of 32 internet domains tied to disinformation campaigns.
According to U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, Russian President Vladimir Putin directed three companies to create fake social media profiles to spread false narratives. Internal
documents reveal that one of the objectives was to support Donald Trump or the eventual Republican nominee.
Two employees of RT, a Russian state media network, were also indicted for their involvement in a scheme that funneled nearly $10 million through a U.S.-based front company, which produced divisive online content. Attorney General Merrick Garland noted that the scheme targeted millions of Americans with covert Russian messaging.
These actions mark the administration’s most significant public response to date against foreign interference, underscoring ongoing concerns about Russia’s influence in U.S. elections.
A newly released FBI affidavit, spanning nearly 300 pages, outlines the seizure of internet domains and details a broad, Kremlin-backed effort to spread fake news targeting U.S. politicians who support Ukraine and to incite division within American society. The effort was directed by the Social Design Agency (SDA), a Russian company previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department.
The affidavit includes internal SDA documents, which date back to before Donald Trump secured the Republican nomination. The documents state one of the company’s goals was to "secure victory" for a candidate from "Political Party A" in the 2024 election—widely interpreted as a reference to Trump or a similar Republican candidate.
SDA's disinformation campaign focused on six key swing states, pushing narratives such as the "risk of job loss for white Americans" and the "threat of crime from Ukrainian immigrants," according to the FBI.
Additionally, the indictment of two employees from Russian state media network RT sheds light on their alleged role in a scheme that funneled nearly $10 million into a Tennessee-based front company, Tenet Media. This company was used to push pro-Russian content aimed at influencing U.S. voters, favoring Trump and other Kremlin-friendly candidates.
RT, formerly known as Russia Today, has long been accused of advancing the Kremlin’s agenda through its global platforms. U.S. officials have consistently pointed to Russia’s efforts to interfere in past elections, including the 2016 campaign. RT America was previously forced to register as a foreign agent in 2017 due to its involvement in those activities.
This latest set of actions is the second major effort by the Biden administration to curtail RT's influence, following similar actions in July. At that time, the Justice Department accused RT of using a network of 1,000 social media accounts to spread disinformation, particularly about the war in Ukraine.
Other foreign actors, including Iran and China, are also on the U.S. radar for potential election interference. Iranian hackers, for example, successfully targeted the Trump campaign in June, breaching internal documents and sharing them with media outlets.
Despite these efforts, U.S. officials stress that the integrity of the voting process remains secure. Over 97% of registered voters will cast ballots in jurisdictions with a verified paper record, providing strong transparency and protection against any tampering
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