The approach is widely viewed by American security agencies as one of Russia’s preferred tactics this cycle in order to make their foreign psychological operations appear more authentic.
The Justice Department alleged the most high-profile influence operation of the 2024 cycle in an indictment Wednesday, accusing two Russian propagandists who work for the Russia-backed state media outlet RT of committing money laundering by funneling nearly $10 million to a conservative media outlet.
Last week, the Biden administration unsealed criminal charges against employees of a Russian state-run media company, while seizing internet domains that the Kremlin has been using to spread disinformation.
That same day, the Justice Department announced the seizure of 32 internet domains used in the Russian government-directed “Doppelganger” foreign malign influence campaign, which it said violated U.S. money-laundering and criminal trademark laws.
