The U.S. Departments of Justice and Treasury have launched an extensive crackdown on what they assert are Russian government-sponsored attempts to undermine U.S. public opinion ahead of the November election. In a joint announcement on Wednesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Treasury Department revealed parallel actions that target Russian-backed media network RT and its alleged involvement in money laundering and violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Attorney General Garland announced the unsealing of an indictment in the Southern District of New York, charging two RT employees with conspiring to commit money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act. According to Garland, the indicted individuals orchestrated a scheme worth nearly $10 million, utilizing a Tennessee-based company to publish and distribute content favorable to the Russian government. This content was then disseminated by U.S.-based social media influencers, who were unaware of the ties between the company and RT.

The motive behind this coordinated effort, as stated by Garland, was to amplify U.S. domestic divisions and weaken American opposition to Russian interests, particularly the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The defendants and the company intentionally misrepresented their ties to RT as being sponsored by a fictitious private investor, failing to disclose their true connections to the Russian government.

The investigation is ongoing, and as part of the response, the Department of Justice is seizing 32 internet domains used by the Russian government and Russian actors to influence the U.S. election. This move further demonstrates the U.S. government's determination to protect the integrity of the democratic process from foreign interference.

Prior to the DOJ's announcement, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 10 individuals and two entities for their alleged involvement in Moscow's malign influence efforts targeting the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The Treasury Department claimed that RT executives used a front company to conceal their involvement in creating content meant to influence American audiences.

Under the new measures, all assets and property of the designated individuals within U.S. jurisdiction, as well as those in the possession or control of Americans, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. This action is intended to restrict the malign influence campaign orchestrated by these entities and individuals.

The U.S. intelligence agencies have previously emphasized Russia's desire to interfere in the upcoming election, with a focus on undermining support for the Democratic presidential nominee and influencing public opinion on arming Ukraine. The ODNI report released in 2017 noted RT's role in Russian propaganda and disinformation, requiring the network to register as a foreign agent.

These recent efforts to combat foreign interference come after concerns expressed by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan about possible Russian interference in the 2024 election cycle. Sullivan emphasized the significance of this issue for national security rather than mere political considerations, highlighting the alarming reality of a foreign adversary manipulating the politics and democracy of the United States.

While Russia's attempts to disseminate disinformation have already been observed during the 2020 election, it is important to note that their impact was overshadowed by former President Trump's own efforts to undermine the election. Trump's false claims of widespread election fraud led to the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Experts have stated that the focus should not only be on external influence, but also on addressing the domestic factors that contribute to the spread of false information.

As the investigation into Russian interference continues and indictments are brought against the individuals involved, the Biden administration reaffirms its commitment to preserving the integrity of U.S. elections and safeguarding the democratic processes from undue foreign influence.