DOJ Indicts Former Trump Campaign Advisor and Russian Intel Officers in new Cases

Thursday afternoon, the Justice Department took additional actions against Russian figures, filing charges against former Trump campaign advisor and his wife as well as multiple Russian intelligence hackers who targeted Ukrainian assets.

Dimitri Simes and Anastasia Simes allegedly violated sanctions laws by aiding Russian broadcaster Channel One Russia which is prohibited from operating within U.S. boundaries.

Simes was employed as both presenter and producer at Channel One Russia, receiving payments exceeding one million as well as receiving “personal car and driver, an apartment rental subsidy in Moscow and team of 10 employees from Channel One Russia”. Since this channel has since been sanctioned under OFAC sanctions.

Anastasia Simes may have also assisted another effort to skirt sanctions imposed against Russian oligarchs by purchasing art and antiques anonymously on his behalf and later transporting them back home.

On Thursday in Baltimore, prosecutors issued an amended indictment charging five more Russian individuals involved with hacking Ukrainian government systems prior to Russia’s invasion. While an initial indictment only charged one individual involved, this new one adds five individuals believed to work for Russia’s GRU intelligence service and adds five new charges against these people.

Both GRU members remain at large in both cases; as such, the US offers an incentive of $10 Million for any information leading to their capture or arrest.

“Russia’s WhisperGate campaign, targeting Ukrainian critical infrastructure and government systems without military value as part of their illegal invasion campaign against Ukraine is emblematic of their disregard for innocent civilians as part of an unlawful military occupation,” Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the National Security Division stated when announcing this indictment.

The indictment charges that GRU hackers and their co-conspirator engaged in an international conspiracy to hack into, exfiltrate data from, leak information obtained from and destroy computer systems associated with the Ukrainian Government prior to Russia’s invasion. Their aim was to cause widespread public anxiety regarding both safety of government systems as well as personal data security among Ukrainian citizens.

Two new cases against Russian citizens surface just one day after the Justice Department unsealed an indictment brought against two Russian nationals accused of working with American companies to promote content designed to sow political divisions within America and promote pro-Russia views.

On Wednesday, the Justice Department also made headlines when it announced it had taken measures against 23 websites it believes are being used by Russian agents to spread disinformation or influence 2024 elections.

They released exhibits, such as dual-language planning documents that aim to “exacerbate domestic divisions” and secure Russia’s preferred results in elections.

Although heavily redacted, the documents reveal Russia’s preference for Donald Trump to win the presidential election under their “America first” agenda that limits involvement with world affairs. Furthermore, these documents state their aim is to influence U.S. opinion regarding Ukraine in ways acceptable to Russian President Putin – this includes accepting ceding of Ukrainian territory to them.