Lawmakers Say Briefing Showed Russia Targeting Democrats With Misinformation Ahead of Midterms
Reuters reported that the top Democrats on the congressional intelligence committees said on October 21 that an intelligence briefing showed Russia has been waging a misinformation campaign against Democrats running in next month's midterm elections. Senator Mark Warner and Representative Jim Himes had requested the election security briefing from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, and said the material was classified, limiting what they could reveal.
Warner said Russia was running the same kind of online misinformation campaign the U.S. intelligence community tracked in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 elections, and that it was 'going after Democrats.' News reports cited by the lawmakers said James Talarico, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Texas, and Senator Jon Ossoff, seeking re-election in Georgia, were in particular being targeted by fake advertisements created with SI. Himes called Moscow's conduct 'the same old, same old,' aimed at sowing chaos and distrust in voting machines, and added there was 'no reason to believe' China has not also been conducting extremely targeted efforts to influence voters.
The White House and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and neither did the Russian embassy; Moscow has in the past denied meddling in U.S. elections. The 2026 midterm elections take place on November 3, and Democrats need to pick up at least four Senate seats to win control of the chamber.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：参议员 Mark Warner 2025年官方肖像，美国参议院官方照片，公共领域。Photo: Official portrait of Senator Mark Warner, 2025. U.S. Senate, public domain.
