A man records his vote in Wisconsin on October 20, 2020. -
KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP
The American intelligence director accused Russia and Iran on Wednesday evening of having got their hands on the data of certain American voters and of having taken actions to influence them in the run-up to the November 3 presidential election.
Iran sent e-mails "aimed at intimidating voters, inciting social unrest and harming President Trump," said John Ratcliffe at a press conference announced at the last minute.
Orange alert from the FBI / Nat Intel: Iran and Russia hacked electoral lists databases (already in 2016 for Moscow).
Iran sent emails to voters to discourage them from voting and "to harm Trump", no (known) exploitation of Russia pic.twitter.com/uNiOshkyH1
- Philippe Berry (@ptiberry) October 22, 2020
Threatening and personalized emails
Moscow and Tehran "have taken specific actions to influence public opinion in connection with our election (...) We were able to confirm that information on the electoral lists had been obtained by Iran and, separately, by Russia", he added.
"This data can be used by foreign actors to try to give false information to registered voters, which they hope will sow confusion and chaos and undermine confidence in American democracy," he said. he said again.
The announcement was made after Democratic voters said they had received threatening emails addressed to them personally on behalf of the “Proud Boys”, a far-right group.
The messages ordered them to vote for Donald Trump.
“We are in possession of all your information.
You are currently registered as a Democrat and we know that because we have access to the entire electoral infrastructure, ”said one of those emails.
"You are going to vote Trump on election day, or you will be dealing with us."
John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Christopher Wray, who stood by his side, did not explain how Russia and Iran got their hands on the data, nor did they say how Moscow might be. served.
Wray insisted on ensuring that the American electoral system remained secure and “resilient”.
According to US intelligence agencies, Russia interfered in the 2016 US election for the benefit of Donald Trump, whose campaign team has been accused of colluding with Moscow.
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