Russia and Iran have obtained voter registration information and are using it to send disinformation to voters across the United States, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe announced during a Wednesday night news conference.
Ratcliffe said these “actions are desperate attempts by desperate adversaries,” while Wray stated Americans “should be confident that your vote counts. Early, unverified claims to the contrary should be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism.”
Democratic voters in Florida, Pennsylvania, and at least two other battleground states have reported receiving emails claiming to be from the Proud Boys, a far-right group. The intimidating emails tell recipients if they don’t vote for President Trump, “we will come after you.” Ratcliffe, a Trump ally, said Iran was behind some threatening emails, adding that they were “designed to intimidate voters, incite social unrest, and damage President Trump,” but this immediately received pushback from Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), who tweeted, “Actually, [Department of Homeland Security] officials say that Iran sent spoofed emails to intimidate voters FOR Donald Trump. Are you being fully honest with the American people?”