Russia Helped Trump In 2020 Election, New Intelligence Confirms

Intelligence officials have released a report alleging Russian interference in the 2020 presidential election, trying to keep Donald Trump in office but not repeating 2016 cyberattacks. The report also covered pro-Biden efforts by Iran and China considering but not executing plans to sway the outcome, CNN reports.

Russia’s focus this time around was less on bolstering Trump and more on undermining Biden and subverting faith in U.S. democracy.

The report, released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, says Russia’s efforts were in "denigrating President Biden's candidacy and the Democratic Party, supporting former President Trump, undermining public confidence in the electoral process, and exacerbating sociopolitical divisions in the U.S.”

Years of shoring up U.S. cybersecurity seem to have paid off, with Russia opting not to interfere digitally as it did in 2016. The report went out of its way to note there was no evidence votes were changed or prevented.

“[There are] no indications that any foreign actor attempted to alter any technical aspect of the voting process in the 2020 US elections, including voter registration, casting ballots, vote tabulation, or reporting results,” the report said.

Other foreign actors were also scrutinized, especially China and Iran. Both have been on the government’s radar since 2016 as potential sources of interference.

Iran was found to have taken action against Trump, hardly surprising given their contentious relationship.

“We assess that Iran carried out a multi-pronged covert influence campaign intended to undercut former President Trump's reelection prospects--though without directly promoting his rivals--undermine public confidence in the electoral process and U.S. institutions, and sow division and exacerbate societal tensions in the US," the report says.

Officials determined that China has considered interfering but ultimately kept out of the race.