The US investigates the actions of Americans who worked with Russian propagandists — NYT.

The US has launched an investigation into Americans collaborating with Russian propagandists

The US Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into Americans working with Russian television propagandists. This could be a signal of Washington's efforts to combat Kremlin influence operations ahead of the November presidential elections, reports The New York Times, citing American officials.

In August, FBI agents searched the homes of Scott Ritter, a former UN weapons inspector and critic of US foreign policy, and Dmitry Simes, an advisor to former President Donald Trump. Both are frequent guests of Russian state media. Ritter's mobile phones, computers, and hard drives were seized, but neither he nor Simes have been charged. New searches and possible criminal cases are expected soon, journalists write.

"This is an outright attack on the Constitution of the United States," said Ritter.

NYT writes that the investigation follows US intelligence findings that Russian state news agencies, particularly Russia Today, in cooperation with intelligence services, aim to influence elections worldwide, including in the US. According to Washington, the Russians have supported Trump for the third time by creating online news outlets and fake videos to discredit President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

It is noted that the investigation is politically challenging and evokes similar debates in the US regarding Russia's influence on the 2016 presidential elections. Investigating the activities of Americans working with Russian media, even state-owned, law enforcement may face the defense of free speech rights.

Source: ZN.UA