DISINFO: Russia never intervened in US elections in 2016
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: sputniknews.gr ( archived) *
  • Date of publication: December 17, 2020
  • Outlet language(s): Greek
  • Countries / regions discussed: US, Russia

DISINFO: Russia never intervened in US elections in 2016

SUMMARY

Russian hackers did not interfere in the US presidential elections in 2016 when Donald Trump was elected nor in 2020 when Joe Biden won over Donald Trump. Claims about an alleged “Russian interference” only aim to destroy bilateral relations between Russia and the United States.

RESPONSE

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation denying Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.

Available evidence suggests that Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential poll - which was specifically aimed at damaging Clinton's campaign and aid her opponent - did affect the vote, particularly in three critical swing states where Trump's victory margins were the thinnest. In the US, Russian-linked posts reached 126 million Facebook users, whilst 29 million saw the content "directly".

Available evidence suggests that Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential poll - which was specifically aimed(opens in a new tab) to damage Clinton's campaign and aid her opponent - did affect the outcome(opens in a new tab) of the vote, particularly in three critical swing states(opens in a new tab) where Trump's victory margins were the thinnest. In addition, the US Justice Department has charged 12 Russian intelligence officers with hacking Democratic officials in the 2016 US elections(opens in a new tab). Previously, 13 Russian citizens as well as the Internet Research Agency(opens in a new tab), Concord Management and Concord Catering(opens in a new tab) had been charged with interfering(opens in a new tab) with the US political system.

Robert Mueller's investigation also concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Mueller's report determined that there were "two main Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election". The first involved attempts by the Internet Research Agency to conduct disinformation and social media operations in the US to sow social discord, with the aim of interfering with the election. The second involved the Russian government's efforts to conduct computer hacking operations designed to gather and disseminate information to influence the election.

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