US Intelligence Director: "Russia and Iran Interfered in US Election to Oust Trump"

"Email Urging Vote for Trump Sent by Iran"
US Democrats Protest "Intelligence Chief Biased Toward Trump"
US Senate Democratic Leader: "Unlikely Interference to Cause Trump's Defeat"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Director of the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) stated at a press conference that Russia and Iran, hostile to the United States, are interfering in the U.S. presidential election by misusing American voter information and sending emails that negatively affect President Donald Trump's election support rate. The U.S. Democratic Party criticized his announcement as a biased claim, countering that Russia and Iran, who wish for President Trump's re-election, would not engage in operations to cause his defeat.

According to foreign media including CNN, on the 21st (local time), DNI Director John Ratcliffe held an emergency press conference jointly with the FBI, stating, "It has been confirmed that Iran and Russia separately obtained some voter registration information," and criticized, "The emails sent by Iran impersonating the American far-right group 'Proud Boys' were intended to intimidate American voters and incite social unrest."

Earlier that day, some voters in key battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Florida reportedly received threatening emails from the Proud Boys, warning that they must vote for President Trump in the election. The email contained the message, "You must cast your vote for Trump in the election. Otherwise, you will be tracked." Director Ratcliffe explained, "Russia did not engage in the same actions as Iran, but like in the 2016 election, it obtained information on some voters."

CNN cited election officials in Florida reporting, "According to the FBI, the Proud Boys' emails came from 'some country,' not from someone hiding in a basement in Florida." Warnings that countries hostile to the U.S., such as the U.S., China, and Iran, are attempting to interfere with the U.S. presidential election have been ongoing in the United States.

William Evanina, Director of the U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), representing U.S. intelligence agencies in a statement released in August, claimed, "Iran aims to disparage the U.S. democratic system and President Trump and disrupt the nation ahead of the U.S. election." He added, "Iran believes that if President Trump is re-elected, U.S. pressure to replace the ruthless Iranian regime will continue, which motivates such behavior," and pointed out, "Russia mainly uses various methods to undermine Joe Biden, who is anti-Russian."

However, the Democratic Party strongly criticized Director Ratcliffe's claims. Democratic members of the House Homeland Security Committee tweeted, "Do not listen to Ratcliffe; he is a biased person." According to The New York Times (NYT), after receiving a briefing on election security, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of the U.S. Democratic Party said in an interview with NBC, "If Iran and Russia interfere in the election, it would be to undermine trust in our elections and voting to benefit President Trump," adding, "I do not believe they would do such things to cause President Trump to lose."