Trump Campaign Confirms Hack of Internal Documents, Blames Iran

Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has reported being targeted by a foreign hack, following inquiries from news organizations about a vetting document related to vice-presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance. Campaign spokesman Steven Cheung stated that the documents were illegally obtained from hostile foreign sources, aiming to disrupt the 2024 election. This claim aligns with a recent Microsoft report indicating that Iranian hackers attempted to breach the email account of a high-ranking official within a U.S. presidential campaign. The Microsoft report revealed that a group linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had compromised the email of a former campaign adviser and used it to send phishing emails to senior officials. While Cheung did not provide evidence linking the hack to Iran, he acknowledged that the campaign had previously identified a breach in its email system but had not disclosed it publicly. The campaign received messages from an anonymous sender offering proprietary information, including a vetting document for Vance, which was confirmed authentic by sources familiar with the matter. In a statement, Trump claimed that Microsoft informed his campaign of the hack, asserting that only publicly available information was accessed. He attributed the incident to the Biden administration's perceived weaknesses. The situation reflects a broader trend of foreign interference in U.S. elections, as seen in previous cycles, with the Trump campaign now facing similar challenges. As the campaign navigates these allegations, it remains unclear whether the leaked documents are directly linked to the Iranian hacking efforts or stem from an unrelated internal breach. The ongoing developments highlight the persistent threat of foreign interference in American electoral processes.