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WASHINGTON: Russia is actively trying to undermine voters’ faith in the U.S. electoral system and especially by voting by mail before the Nov. 3 elections, according to an analysis by the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday (Sept. 3). ).
The DHS internal analysis, first reported by ABC News and later by other US outlets, says that at least since March 2020, “Russian actors of malign influence have been amplifying allegations of electoral integrity problems in the new processes. voting and vote-by-mail programs. “
He says that through the media and social media, Russians have encouraged Americans to fear voter fraud, gross counting errors, and mishandling of ballots by the postal service.
This argument is one that President Donald Trump criticizes as he advances in the polls.
Russian media and power websites are also promoting the idea that voting by mail, which is driven primarily to limit the risk of COVID-19 spreading through in-person voting, is coming under pressure. by officials and policy makers to benefit specific candidates.
READ: US officials see no evidence of foreign meddling in mail ballots
Online meddling activity took place during the party’s caucuses and primaries earlier in the year, but escalated when the coronavirus began to spread and officials began promoting widespread mail-in voting.
“We assess that Russia is likely to continue to expand criticism of postal voting and change voting processes amid the COVID-19 pandemic to undermine public confidence in the electoral process,” the unclassified report said.
As in 2016, Russians often amplify sentiments that are already present in American politics.
Trump and many Republicans say voting by mail is likely to lead to widespread fraud and questionable vote counts.
“Russia is echoing the destructive and false narratives around vote-by-mail that President Trump and his facilitators, including Attorney General Barr, have been aggressively promoting,” said the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. , Adam Schiff, in a statement.
Separately, Democratic senators on Thursday pressed the US Treasury to impose sanctions “immediately” on Russian organizations and individuals for interfering in the elections, saying intelligence shows Moscow is seeking to damage Trump’s rival’s candidacy. Joe Biden.
“It is time for the administration to send a direct message to President (Vladimir) Putin: The United States will respond immediately and forcefully to the continued electoral interference,” the letter to Mnuchin read.
“There is practically no threat to national security more serious than that posed by those who would undermine the trust and effective functioning of our democratic elections,” they wrote.
READ: Trump Postmaster General Halts Service Cuts After Mail Ballot Protest
An Aug. 7 statement from the National Center for Counterintelligence and Security said Russia is actively working against Biden’s candidacy, favoring Trump as it did in 2016.
“Russia is using a series of measures to primarily denigrate former Vice President Biden and what it sees as an anti-Russia ‘establishment’,” the statement said.
Since then, however, the Director of National Intelligence, John Ratcliffe, has refused to provide more reports to Congress on the electoral meddling, saying he would simply send written summaries.
