DOJ Indicts Trump Adviser
On Thursday, the Justice Department escalated its efforts against Russian operatives by filing charges against a former Trump campaign adviser and his wife, as well as multiple Russian hackers implicated in cyber-attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
Dimitri Simes, who played a role as an adviser through his think tank during President Trump’s 2016 campaign, and his wife, Anastasia Simes, are now facing accusations of breaching U.S. sanctions. The charges claim that the Simes couple aided Channel One Russia, a media outlet barred from operating in the U.S. due to sanctions. Dimitri Simes reportedly received over $1 million in payments, along with perks including a personal car and driver, an apartment stipend in Moscow, and a team of 10 employees from Channel One Russia. This broadcaster has been under sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Additionally, Anastasia Simes is alleged to have participated in a scheme to evade sanctions imposed on a Russian oligarch by purchasing art and antiques on his behalf and shipping these items to Russia.
In a separate but related action, the Justice Department in Baltimore announced a superseding indictment that expands the scope of a previous case involving Russian hackers. Initially, only one individual was charged, but the updated indictment includes five additional Russians connected to the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency. These individuals are accused of hacking Ukrainian government systems in the run-up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of these GRU members.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen criticized the GRU’s actions, emphasizing that their cyber-attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure demonstrate a blatant disregard for innocent lives amid Russia’s unjust aggression.
This crackdown follows recent Justice Department actions targeting Russian efforts to influence U.S. politics. Earlier this week, an indictment was unsealed against two Russians charged with collaborating with American entities to spread divisive content and promote pro-Russian narratives. Furthermore, the Justice Department seized 23 websites used by Russian operatives to spread misinformation and influence the 2024 election.
Documents revealed in these actions suggest that Russia favors a Republican victory, particularly President Trump, due to his “America First” stance, which limits U.S. involvement in global conflicts and aligns with Russian interests. The documents also reflect a strategy to sway U.S. public opinion in favor of Russian territorial claims in Ukraine.
