Politics Senate Intel report finds Kremlin directed Russian social media meddling in 2016

he Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday recommended a set of sweeping steps for Congress, President Trump and social media companies to take to prevent Russian disinformation efforts from impairing the 2020 elections.

In a bipartisan report, the panel said Congress should consider legislation to increase the transparency of political advertisements on social media. It also called on social media companies to improve efforts to notify users of exposure to disinformation, three years after Russian actors directed by the Kremlin interfered in the 2016 presidential election.

"This challenge requires an integrated approach that brings together the public and private sectors," the committee wrote. "This approach must be rooted in protecting democratic values, including freedom of speech and the right to privacy. The Federal government, civil society, and the private sector, including social media and technology companies, each have an important role to play in deterring and defending against foreign influence operations that target the United States."

The report is the second volume to be released as part of the committee’s two-year investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election. The first volume, released in July, focused on Russian efforts to interfere in U.S. voting infrastructure.

The panel recommended Tuesday that the Trump administration “reinforce with the public the danger of attempted foreign interference in the 2020 election,” such as establishing an interagency task force to monitor foreign use of social media to spread disinformation.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate...lin-directed-russian-social-media-meddling-in

 

At a news conference after the summit, President Trump was asked if he believed his own intelligence agencies or the Russian president when it came to the allegations of meddling in the elections.

"President Putin says it's not Russia. I don't see any reason why it would be," he replied.

 

President Trump's response to Russia's multi-pronged cyber attacks, from their malware botnets to their attacks targeting the U.S. energy grid and election systems, has been milquetoast.

The United States Intelligence agencies confirmed that a foreign nation interfered with the 2016 American election process.[1] We know two dozen state's election systems came under attack.[2] The Intelligence Agencies heads unanimously agree that the Russians are still sowing political division.[3] The cyber security head of the Department of Homeland Security has stated that the Russians had successfully penetrated voter registration rolls in several states before the 2016 election.[4] President Trump's administration has retaliated to these attacks on America's institutions and infrastructure by penalizing Russians, unfortunately President Trump did not mention the sanctions nor the election meddling during his statement on the nerve agent attack in Britain.[5] President Trump has repeatedly called the Russian election interference a hoax.[6]

President Trump's actions with regards to Russian interference has been concerning to say the least.

U.S. officials, including former National Security Advisor General H.R. McMaster, have claimed that this administration has not done enough to dissuade Russian meddling.[7] For example President Trump put the brakes on new economic sanctions on Russia, a day after U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley laid out a preliminary plan to impose new sanctions. This decision by President Trump came after the Kremlin denounced the new sanctions plan as international economic raiding.[8] Furthermore, NSA Director Admiral Rodgers testified to Congress that Trump had given no order to counter Russian election meddling.[9] While former National Security Advisor General H.R. McMaster warned of Russian election meddling and publicly denounced their continued attacks, he was removed by President Trump and John Bolton took his place. National Security Advisor Bolton pushed to eliminate a top Cyber-Security position in the White House as he attempted to reorganize the National Security Council.[10]

Russia's multi-pronged cyber attacks:

Russian cyber interference goes far beyond hacking election systems. The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have accused the Russian government of a multi-stage intrusion campaign targeting the U.S. energy grid. These attacks included critical infrastructure in energy, nuclear, commercial facilities, water facilities, and aviation facilities. Here is the report by the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team where analytic efforts undertaken by DHS and the FBI have found a multistage intrusion campaign perpetuated by the Russian state.[11] This isn't fake news, the United States is under cyber attack from Russia.

This joint Technical Alert (TA) is the result of analytic efforts between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This alert provides information on Russian government actions targeting U.S. Government entities as well as organizations in the energy, nuclear, commercial facilities, water, aviation, and critical manufacturing sectors. It also contains indicators of compromise (IOCs) and technical details on the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by Russian government cyber actors on compromised victim networks. DHS and FBI produced this alert to educate network defenders to enhance their ability to identify and reduce exposure to malicious activity.​

Furthermore, the FBI has attempted to thwart a sophisticated malware system that is linked to Russia's military intelligence agency, the Russian malware has infected hundreds of thousands of routers.[12] The Justice Department has announced actions to disrupt the advanced botnet malware system. It is recommended to restart your router as it may be infected.[13]

What has President Trump done?

President Trump suggested a joint cyber security unit with Russia to stop election hacking, he got the idea after meeting Putin at the G20 summit. He later backtracked on this ridiculous suggestion after facing harsh criticism.[14] In 2018 Vladimir Putin reiterated the idea of a joint cyber security unit at the Helsinki joint press conference. During the same conference President Trump publicly defended Russia explicitly denying their role in election interference.[15]

1) New York Times - Trump Misleads on Russian Meddling: Why 17 Intelligence Agencies Don’t Need to Agree

2) NPR - 10 Months After Election Day, Feds Tell States More About Russian Hacking

3) Washington Post - The nation’s top spies said Russia is continuing to target the U.S. political system

4) Washington Examiner - DHS official: Russians 'successfully penetrated' voter registration rolls in several states before 2016 election

5) New York Times - White House Penalizes Russians Over Election Meddling and Cyberattacks

6) New York Times - Indictment Makes Trump’s Hoax Claim Harder to Sell

7) Washington Post - America is still unprepared for a Russian attack on our elections

8) Washington Post - Trump puts the brakes on new Russian sanctions, reversing Haley’s announcement

9) New York Times - White House Has Given No Orders to Counter Russian Meddling, N.S.A. Chief Says

10) Politico - Bolton pushing to eliminate White House cyber job

11) Department of Homeland Security: United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) - Russian Government Cyber Activity Targeting Energy and Other Critical Infrastructure Sectors

12) New York Times - F.B.I.’s Urgent Request: Reboot Your Router to Stop Russia-Linked Malware

13) United States Department of Justice - Justice Department Announces Actions to Disrupt Advanced Persistent Threat 28 Botnet of Infected Routers and Network Storage Devices

14) Reuters - Trump backtracks on cyber unit with Russia after harsh criticism

15) NPR - In Helsinki, Trump Appeared To Side With Russia Over U.S. Intelligence Community

 

On July 16, 2018 President Trump stood in front of the world in Helsinki with President Putin and denied Russian election interference. On the same day the Justice Department announced the arrest of Maria Butina for conspiracy to act as an agent of the Russian Federation.[1]

The affidavit about Maria Butina included an interesting nugget confirming that she had a very private line of communication between GOP leaders and the Kremlin by using the NRA as a secure conduit for communication;[2]

On October 4, 2016. U.S. Persom 1 sent an email to an acquaintance. The email covered a number of topics. Within the email, U.S. Person 1 stated, "unrelated to specific presidential campaigns, I've been involved in securing a VERY private line of communication between the Kremlin and key POLITICAL PARTY 1 leaders through, of all conduits, the [GUN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION.].​

According to the affidavit Convicted Russian Spy Butina was working with former deputy governor of Russia's central bank Alexander Torshin to infiltrate conservative groups in America including the National Rifle Association;

Defendant BUTINA is a Russian citizen who entered the United States in August 2016 on an F-1 Student Visa. Before and after her arrival in the United States, BUTINA served as Special Assistant to the RUSSIAN OFFICIAL. Conspiring together, BUTINA and the RUSSIAN OFFICIAL took various overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy and to effect the illegal purpose thereof.

The RUSSIAN OFFICIAL is a Russian citizen and a high-level official in the Russian government. The RUSSIAN OFFICIAL was previously a member of the legislature of the Russian Federation and later became a top official at the Russian Central Bank. The RUSSIAN OFFICIAL directed BUTINA's activities in furtherance of the conspiracy.​

On December 13, 2018 Maria Butina pleaded guilty and was convicted of conspiring to act as a foreign agent, a Russian spy.[3]

Convicted Russian Spy Maria Butina's ties to the Trump campaign and conservative groups in America:

• Following a joint press conference between President Trump and Vladimir Putin where both leaders denied any wrongdoing by the Russians,[4] on July 16, 2018 the Justice Department announced the arrest of Maria Butina for conspiracy to act as an agent of the Russian Federation.
  
  
• The Trump Campaign Director of National Security had contacted Maria Butina multiple times before the election.[5]
  
  
• Maria Butina attended one of the first public events hosted by candidate Trump in 2015. She asked candidate Trump what he would do about Russian sanctions. Candidate Trump responded by stating "I believe that I would get along very nicely with Putin, okay? I don't think you'd need the sanctions."[6]
  
  
• Maria Butina organized the largest delegation to attend the 2017 National Prayer Breakfast. The delegation was unusually large and composed of Russians.[7]
  
  
• Maria Butina organized Russian-American “friendship and dialogue” dinner events in D.C. with the intent of reporting back to Moscow what she had learned at all these events.[8]
  

Convicted Russian spy Maria Butina is a protege of reputed Russian mobster and Putin ally Alexander Torshin. Alexander Torshin has extensive ties to the NRA:

• It was at an NRA convention where it was planned that the Trump campaign meet with Alexander Torshin, an ally of Vladimir Putin. Torshin is a reputed mobster and former deputy governor of the Russian Central Bank.[9]
  
  
• Alexander Torshin is wanted in Spain in connection to a money laundering operation for a Russian crime syndicate.[10]
  
  
• Alexander Torshin reportedly told a Trump campaign adviser that he could arrange a back-channel meeting between President Trump and President Putin.[11]
  
  
• An investigative report conducted by NPR sheds light on the depth of Torshin's extensive ties to the NRA's leadership.[12]
  

1) U.S. Department of Justice - Russian National Charged in Conspiracy to Act as an Agent of the Russian Federation Within the United States

2) U.S. Department of Justice - AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF AN APPLICATION FOR A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

3) U.S. v. Butina Criminal Case No. 18-218 (TSC) - Plea Agreement

4) BBC - Trump sides with Russia against FBI at Helsinki summit

5) Washington Post - Trump associate socialized with alleged Russian agent Maria Butina in final weeks of 2016 campaign

6) CNN - Russian indicted this month asked Trump question in 2015

7) National Catholic Reporter - Why Mariia Butina wasn't the only Russian attending the National Prayer Breakfast

8) Fox News - Russian woman linked to gun-rights groups is indicted, charged with acting as foreign agent

9) CBS - Trump Jr. met with man with close ties to Kremlin

10) Bloomberg - Mobster or Central Banker? Spanish Cops Allege This Russian Both

11) New York Times - Operative Offered Trump Campaign ‘Kremlin Connection’ Using N.R.A. Ties

12) NPR - Depth Of Russian Politician's Cultivation Of NRA Ties Revealed

 

Who is Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin and how sophisticated was Russia's election interference?

In 2018 Special Counsel Mueller indicted 13 Russian nationals and 3 Russian entities for election interference.[1] The Russian election meddling operation was a sophisticated attack against the West. This operation was funded through Russian fronts including a catering company run by a close friend of Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin. They used stolen American identities. Operatives bought political ads on social media sites. Operatives visited the United States, traveled across 9 states and discussed escape routes if they were caught inside the country. Operatives bought equipment including burner phones and SIM cards. The operation included hundreds of employees and millions of dollars. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein put it best - the Russians conducted information warfare during the election.[2] According to Mueller's indictment Prigozhin met Mikhail Bystrov, a leader of the Internet Research Agency (IRA), regularly in 2015 and 2016.[3] Prigozhin funded the Internet Research Agency and their meddling of the American election. This was a sophisticated operation that spanned over several years.[4] Prigozhin has been Putin's go to guy for under the table missions including recruiting mercenaries for the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.[5] Prigozhin is heavily involved with Russian mercenaries fighting in Syria and was part of the chain of command that gave an order to attack American soldiers in early 2018.[6]

Furthermore, in January Special Counsel Mueller made a court filing alleging that evidence against a Russian firm was used in a disinformation campaign in an attempt to discredit the Russia probe. The documents the Russian firm shared were doctored and the disinformation was disseminated on the internet to undermine the Russia investigation. The Russian firm indicted by Mueller is owned by Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prighozin.[7]

1) Department of Justice Indictment of 13 Russian Nationals and 3 Russian entities

2) BBC - Russians conducted 'information warfare' on US election

3) Washington Post - The rise of ‘Putin’s chef,’ the Russian oligarch accused of manipulating the U.S. election

4) The Guardian - Putin’s chef, a troll farm and Russia's plot to hijack US democracy

5) New York Times - Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russian Oligarch Indicted by U.S., Is Known as ‘Putin’s Cook’

6) Washington Post - What we know about the shadowy Russian mercenary firm behind an attack on U.S. troops in Syria

7) CNBC - Mueller says evidence against Russian firm was used in 'disinformation campaign' apparently to discredit special counsel's Russia probe

 

And a friendly reminder that during the 2016 Presidential election then candidate Trump was pursuing an extremely lucrative business deal with Russia. President Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about the Trump Organization pursuing a Moscow Trump Tower project during the 2016 Presidential Campaign.[1] Special Counsel Mueller charged Cohen for making false statements to Congress. Cohen made false statements to minimize the link between the Moscow Trump Tower project and then Candidate Trump as his company continued the venture well into the 2016 Presidential Campaign.[2]

a. The Moscow Project was discussed multiple times within the Company and did not end in January 2016. Instead, as late as approximately June 2016 , COHEN and Individual 2 discussed efforts to obtain Russian governmental approval for the Moscow Project . COHEN discussed the status and progress of the Moscow Project with Individual 1 on more than the three occasions COHEN claimed to the Committee, and he briefed family members of Individual 1 within the Company about the project.

b. COHEN agreed to travel to Russia in connection with the Moscow Project and took steps in contemplation of ndividual l's possible travel to Russia. COHEN and Individual 2 discussed on multiple occasions traveling to Russia to pursue the Moscow Project.

• i. COHEN asked Individual 1 about the possibility of Individual 1 traveling to Russia in connection with the Moscow Project, and asked a senior campaign official about potential business travel to Russia.
  
  
• ii . On or about May 4, 2016, Individual 2 wrote to COHEN, "I had a chat with Moscow . ASSUMING the trip does happen the question is before or after the convention . Obviously the pre - meeting trip (you only) can happen anytime you want but the 2 big guys where [sic] the question . I said I would confirm and revert ." COHEN responded, "My trip before Cleveland. [Individual l] once he becomes the nominee after the convention."
  
  
• iii. On or about May 5, 2016, Individual 2 followed up with COHEN and wrote, "[Russian Official l] would like to invite you as his guest to the St. Petersburg Forum which is Russia's Davos it's June 16- 19. He wants to meet there with you and possibly introduce you to either [the President of Russia] or [the Prime Minister of Russia], as they are not sure if 1 or both will be there. He said anything you want to discuss including dates and subjects are on the table to discuss."
  
  
• iv . On or about May 6 , 2016 , Individual 2 asked COHEN to confirm those dates would work for him to travel . COHEN wrote back , "Works for me."
  
  
• v. From on or about June 9 to June 14, 2016, Individual 2 sent numerous messages to COHEN about the travel, including forms for COHEN to complete. However, on or about June 14, 2016, COHEN met Individual 2 in the lobby of the Company's headquarters to inform Individual 2 he would not be traveling at that time.
  

c . COHEN did recall that in or around January 2016, COHEN received a response from the office of Russian Official 1, the Press Secretary for the President of Russia, and spoke to a member of that office about the Moscow Project.

• i. On or about January 14, 2016, COHEN emailed Russian Official l's office asking for assistance in connection with the Moscow Project. On or about January 16, 2016, COHEN emailed Russian Official l ' s office again, said he was trying to reach another high- level Russian official, and asked for someone who spoke English to contact him.
  
  
• ii. On or about January 20, 2016, COHEN received an email from the personal assistant to Russian Official 1 ("Assistant 1"), stating that she had been trying to reach COHEN and requesting that he call her using a Moscow-based phone number she provided.
  
  
• iii. Shortly after receiving the email, COHEN called Assistant 1 and spoke to her for approximately 20 minutes. On that call, COHEN described his position at the Company and outlined the proposed Moscow Project, including the Russian development company with which the Company had partnered. COHEN requested assistance in moving the project forward , both in securing land to build the proposed tower and financing the construction . Assistant 1 asked detailed questions and took notes, stating that she would follow up with others in Russia.
  
  
• iv . The day after COHEN's call with Assistant 1, Individual 2 contacted him, asking for a call. Individual 2 wrote to COHEN, "It' s about [the President of Russia] they called today. "
  

1) Fox News - Ex-Trump attorney Michael Cohen pleads guilty to lying to Congress in Russia probe

2) U.S. v. Michael Cohen (1:18-cr-850, Southern District of New York)

 

There was also No Donkey Knuckles!

 

No Donkey Knuckles!