FBI Warns Kamala Harris Campaign of Unseen Threats to Election Security

The FBI has warned Kamala Harris’s campaign that it is the target of a foreign influence operation, exposing the ongoing threats to U.S. election integrity.

At a Glance

The FBI informed Kamala Harris’s campaign about a foreign influence operation targeting them.
The warning underscores persistent concerns about foreign interference in U.S. elections.
Donald Trump’s campaign also reported hacking attempts, suspected to be by Iran.
The FBI is investigating hacking attempts against both campaigns.

Ongoing Threats to Election Security

Concerns about foreign interference in U.S. elections have been reignited as Kamala Harris’s campaign has been notified by the FBI about a foreign influence operation targeting them. The operation, potentially involving disinformation campaigns and digital attacks on campaign infrastructure, highlights the vulnerabilities of political campaigns to international threats.

In response, Harris’s campaign has reinforced its cybersecurity measures. “We have robust cybersecurity measures in place, and are not aware of any security breaches of our systems resulting from those efforts,” the campaign informed NBC.

VP Kamala Harris' presidential campaign said it was notified by the FBI last month that it was "targeted by a foreign actor influence operation," an NBC News reporter said.https://t.co/DibBKTE7tO

— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) August 13, 2024

Trump Campaign’s Counterclaims

The Trump campaign has also been targeted. Suspected Iranian hackers attempted a phishing operation, accusing Iran of deliberately trying to interfere with the 2024 election. A spokesperson for the Trump campaign stated, “These documents were obtained illegally and intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process.”

“I was informed by the authorities that a couple of my personal email accounts have been compromised,” Stone told the Washington Post. “I really don’t know more about it. And I’m cooperating. It’s all very strange.”

As a significant development, the Trump campaign did not report the hack to the FBI out of “distrust.” Adding to these complexities, three Biden-Harris campaign staff members received spear phishing emails, showing the sophisticated nature of foreign operations.

🔵 FBI TOLD HARRIS CAMPAIGN IT WAS TARGET OF 'FOREIGN ACTOR INFLUENCE OPERATION,' NBC NEWS REPORTS

Full Story → https://t.co/y8duRolR9E

Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign said it was notified by the FBI last month that it was "targeted by a foreign actor… pic.twitter.com/lXLjKLSQCg

— PiQ (@PiQSuite) August 13, 2024

Persistent Foreign Threats

Foreign interference in U.S. elections is not new. The 2016 election interference by Russia serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against such malign influences. Recent reports from Microsoft have highlighted increasing attempts from countries such as Iran, including efforts to hack the accounts of high-ranking officials in U.S. presidential campaigns.

“Our campaign vigilantly monitors and protects against cyber threats, and we are not aware of any security breaches of our systems,” a Harris campaign official mentioned. Despite these assurances, the threats emphasize the need for comprehensive measures to ensure election security

Kamala Harris' presidential campaign said it was notified by the FBI last month that it was "targeted by a foreign actor influence operation," per report. https://t.co/uAthTbUWzl pic.twitter.com/ZpnV58imdv

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) August 13, 2024

Moving Forward

With both the Harris and Trump campaigns now inextricably linked by shared experiences of hacking and foreign interference, the overall integrity of U.S. elections continues to be scrutinized. While some may argue that these operations highlight the vulnerabilities of modern election campaigns, others see it as an urgent call to bolster cybersecurity and reaffirm the democratic values that the United States stands for.

Regardless of political leanings, safeguarding the integrity of our elections should remain a top priority, ensuring the voice of the American people is heard without external manipulation.