The Justice Department’s stunning announcement alleged that the sophisticated skulduggery began in 2014 and involved the creation of social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by more than 80 Russians working day and night.
The accounts were made to look like they were created by ordinary, grassroots American activists but sought to sow political and racial discord and disrupt the nation’s democracy.
“The defendants allegedly conducted what they called information warfare against the United States with the stated goal of spreading distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general,” Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told reporters.
“We must not allow them to succeed,” a stone-faced Rosenstein warned, adding that the case “serves as a reminder that people are not always who they appear to be on the internet.”
Signed by special counsel Robert Mueller, the 37-page, eight-count indictment also charged three businesses.
“By early to mid-2016, defendants’ operations included supporting the presidential campaign of then-candidate Donald J. Trump . . . and disparaging Hillary Clinton,” the indictment charged.
Source : nypost
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