FBI Launches Investigation into Alleged Hack of Trump, JD Vance Presidential Campaigns

The FBI has launched an investigation into the alleged hacking of former President Donald Trump's 2024 election campaign, which includes his running mate, Senator JD Vance.

The probe began in early summer, with suspicions pointing towards Iranian involvement. According to a statement from the FBI on August 12, 2024, "We can confirm the FBI is investigating this matter."

The hacking incident came to light when internal campaign documents, including a vetting dossier on JD Vance, were leaked to reporters. The Trump campaign has accused Iran of orchestrating the hack, although POLITICO has not independently verified the hacker's identity or their motivations.

The campaign's communications director, Steven Cheung, stated that the documents were "obtained illegally from foreign sources hostile to the United States" and were intended "to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our democratic process."

The FBI's investigation shows the persistent threat of foreign interference in U.S. elections, a concern that has been heightened since the 2016 presidential race, which was marred by Russian hacking activities.

The agency's current probe also involves attempts to hack the Biden-Harris campaign, with three staffers receiving spear-phishing emails designed to compromise their communications.

Microsoft's threat intelligence report, dated August 9, 2024, highlighted that "Iranian actors have recently laid the groundwork for influence operations aimed at US audiences and potentially seeking to impact the 2024 US presidential election." This report aligns with the FBI's findings, which suggest that Iranian hackers targeted both Trump and Biden-Harris campaigns.

Roger Stone, a longtime adviser to Trump, was also reportedly affected by the phishing attempts. Stone, who was previously convicted of felonies related to his efforts to obtain Hillary Clinton's private emails during the 2016 campaign, confirmed that his personal email accounts had been compromised.

Despite the gravity of the situation, the Trump campaign initially chose not to alert the FBI, citing distrust of the agency. However, the ongoing investigation aims to ensure the integrity of the upcoming election and address any potential security breaches.