13 Russians, 3 groups indicted in election meddling probe

Thirteen Russian nationals and three Russian entities were charged for waging information warfare using social media in an elaborate plot to "sow discord" with 2016's presidential election, federal prosecutors announced Friday.

According to the indictment from the office of special counsel Robert Mueller, the defendants used the stolen identities of real Americans to post on organization-controlled social media accounts, purchase political advertisements and interfere in U.S. politics as early as 2014.By the start of the 2016 general election, prosecutors say, the aim of the posts were to lift up then-Republican candidate Donald Trump and tarnish his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

Read the indictment here.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was careful to say in a news conference there is no allegation in the indictment of any effect on the election, but it "serves as a reminder that people are not always who they appear to be on the internet."

President Trump, who has loudly called the scandal over the alleged meddling and potential collusion by his campaign a hoax, was briefed on the indictment by Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray in the morning.

Some Trump campaign officials have previously been indicted or pleaded guilty on related charges related to the investigation, but these are the first criminal charges against Russian individuals. The indictment also says that Russians communicated with “unwitting individuals” associated with the Trump campaign and other political activists to coordinate activities.The White House responded to the indictment with the following statement:

"President Donald J. Trump has been fully briefed on this matter and is glad to see the Special Counsel’s investigation further indicates—that there was NO COLLUSION between the Trump campaign and Russia and that the outcome of the election was not changed or affected.

"President Trump says, 'it is more important than ever before to come together as Americans. We cannot allow those seeking to sow confusion, discord, and rancor to be successful. It’s time we stop the outlandish partisan attacks, wild and false allegations, and far-fetched theories, which only serve to further the agendas of bad actors, like Russia, and do nothing to protect the principles of our institutions. We must unite as Americans to protect the integrity of our democracy and our elections.'"

Trump also tweeted: "Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President. The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!"

Source: Wcvb News