US agencies are warning of continued foreign efforts to sow doubt in the election

US government law enforcement and election security agencies are criticizing two new examples of Russian election fraud on the eve of election day, highlighting efforts by outside actors to sow doubt in the voting process and warning that the efforts risk fueling violence against election officials. .

In a joint statement late Monday, officials pointed to a recent article posted by Russian actors falsely claiming that U.S. officials in every presidential transition state were planning a fraud scheme, as well as a video purporting to show a fake interview with a candidate for the election. Fraud in Arizona.

The US intelligence service points out that influential actors connected to Russia “produced videos and created false articles to undermine the legitimacy of the election, instill fear in voters about the electoral process, and suggest that Americans use violence against each other for political preferences,” read. a statement issued by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the US.

“These efforts are at risk of creating violence, including against election officials.”

A spokesman for the Russian Embassy did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Government officials have warned that Russia is likely to release more “produced content” on election day and poses a “very serious threat” when it comes to foreign election influence. The statement also noted that Iran remains “the greatest threat of foreign influence in US elections.”

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The effort described by administration officials is part of a broader Russian influence effort designed to undermine confidence in the election process and sow discord among the American electorate. Intelligence agencies have assessed that Russia, which also interfered in Donald Trump's 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, is again favoring the Republican nominee and may continue its operations after election day.

In addition to the produced videos intended to promote disinformation, US officials have also accused Russian state media of a secret, multimillion-dollar operation to distribute pro-Russia content to American audiences and seize a number of websites they say promote propaganda.

In their statement, the officials also drew renewed attention to Iran's efforts to interfere in the election, including a hacking and leaking operation designed to damage Trump's position. The US Justice Department in September charged three Iranian hackers in that effort.

Iranian actors have also created fake news sites and posed as activists online to try to woo voters, according to Microsoft analysts. The tech giant said last month that Iranian actors who allegedly sent emails aimed at intimidating American voters in 2020 were monitoring election-related websites and major media outlets, raising concerns that they may be preparing another plan this year.

As major technology firms and intelligence officials have announced foreign meddling in this election cycle, Russia, China and Iran have rejected allegations that they sought to interfere in the US election.

An Arizona video released on social media by Russian actors on Monday purports to show an unidentified person exposing an election fraud scheme. State officials said the Arizona Secretary of State's office has already removed the video's content.

Earlier this week, US officials confirmed that a video purporting to show voter fraud in two left-leaning states in Georgia was fake and the product of a Russian farm. And last month, they released in Russia another fake video of a person tearing through ballots in what appears to be Bucks County, Pennsylvania.