Biden govt to impose sanctions on Russia over manipulating US public opinion ahead of election

The Biden administration said on Wednesday that it will announce a series of sanctions targeting Russian government-sponsored attempts to manipulate US public opinion ahead of the upcoming US presidential elections in November, two senior officials told NBC News.

Some of the alleged manipulation has been through a Russian-backed media network Russia Today, the sources confirmed.

The administration's move will include Treasury sanctions and a law enforcement action by the Department of Justice.

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Moreover, Attorney General Merrick Garland is likely to speak publicly on Wednesday afternoon about the announcement.

The Treasury Department said that executives at RT, a Russian-backed media network, wentbeyond using tools like AI deep fakes and disinformation and "began an even more nefarious effort to covertly recruit unwitting American influencers in support of their malign influence campaign."

"RT used a front company to disguise its own involvement orthe involvement of the Russian government in content meant to influence U.S. audiences," the Treasury Department said.

Earlier, the US intelligence agencies evaluated that Moscow wanted to interfere in the 2024 US elections and flagged RT as a source of Russian propaganda and disinformation and required it to register as a foreign agent.

An ODNI report released publicly in 2017, following Russia's efforts in the 2016 election, stated, that RT's editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan “has close ties to top Russian Government officials” and has stated publicly that “the Russian Government sets rating and viewership requirements for RT and, 'since RT receives budget from the state, it must complete tasks given by the state."

After multiple US investigations, Russia was found to have intervened in the 2016 presidential elections. According to the probes, the efforts were intended to help Donald Trump win the election over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

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Biden administration had concerns about possible Russian interference

In February, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the Biden administration had "concerns" about possible Russian interference in the 2024 US elections.

“This is not about politics,” Sullivan said. “This is about national security. It is about a foreign country, a foreign adversary, seeking to manipulate the politics and democracy of the United States of America.”

In July, the Director of National Intelligence's office said that Russia is seeking influence over the US elections to undermine support for the Democratic presidential nominee and American public support for arming Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies)