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---
title: DNC Hacked by Russian Government, Research on Trump Stolen
description: Russian government hackers have broken into the Democratic National Committee&#x27;s computer network, accessing research on Donald Trump
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author: Sam Frizell
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article:published_time: 2016-06-14T16:28:26.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-08-19T07:46:03.531Z
article:section: Politics
og:title: DNC Hacked by Russian Government Intruders Who Stole Opposition Research on Donald Trump
og:description: Russian government hackers have broken into the Democratic National Committee&#x27;s computer network, accessing research on Donald Trump
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twitter:title: DNC Hacked by Russian Government Intruders Who Stole Opposition Research on Donald Trump
twitter:description: Russian government hackers have broken into the Democratic National Committee&#x27;s computer network, accessing research on Donald Trump
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![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte4a1008286ff83fe/698897c4bc6cfc28473dd653/dnc-chair-hacked-russia.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# DNC Hacked by Russian Government Intruders Who Stole Opposition Research on Donald Trump

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by 

[Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/)


## Sam Frizell


Jun 14, 2016 4:28 PM UTC

![Debbie Wasserman Schultz](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte4a1008286ff83fe/698897c4bc6cfc28473dd653/dnc-chair-hacked-russia.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

Democratic National Committee Chair, Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., is interviewed in New York.

Democratic National Committee Chair, Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., is interviewed in New York. Richard Drew—AP

by 

[Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/)


## Sam Frizell


Jun 14, 2016 4:28 PM UTC

Russian government hackers have broken into the Democratic National Committee’s computer network, accessing opposition research on Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump as well as email and chat information, party officials confirmed to TIME.

The hackers did not access donor information and financial records, according to the DNC, but were able to steal troves of data including information on Trump, whose past the Democratic Party has been researching in preparation for a general election. The intrusion was first reported by the [Washington _Post_](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/russian-government-hackers-penetrated-dnc-stole-opposition-research-on-trump/2016/06/14/cf006cb4-316e-11e6-8ff7-7b6c1998b7a0%5Fstory.html?postshare=3991465918805133&tid=ss%5Ftw).

The DNC will play a key role in helping organizing state campaigns in the November election between presumptive nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, and much of the information on their systems is invaluable to waging a successful campaign.

“The security of our system is critical to our operation and to the confidence of the campaigns and state parties we work with,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), the DNC chairwoman said in a statement. “When we discovered the intrusion, we treated this like the serious incident it is and reached out to CrowdStrike immediately. Our team moved as quickly as possible to kick out the intruders and secure our network.”

The party contacted a computer security firm called Crowdstrike shortly after learning of the attack, around six weeks ago. Some of the hackers had access to the DNC network for about a year, according to the _Post_. There was no evidence of criminal activity or theft of financial information.


“What we saw is two separate intelligence efforts by the Russian government or operating on behalf of the Russian government,” said Shawn Henry, CEO of Crowdstrike said speaking on MSNBC. “We didn’t see any evidence of organized crime.”

A Russian Embassy spokesman told the _Post_ that he was not aware of the hack.

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