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# The FBI Charges 13 Russians in Elaborate Plot to Sow Discord and Influence 2016 Election

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## Video: The FBI Charges 13 Russians in Elaborate Plot to Sow Discord and Influence 2016 Election

[Watch (HLS stream): The FBI Charges 13 Russians in Elaborate Plot to Sow Discord and Influence 2016 Election](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/bZUzvqw0.m3u8) (1:38)

![The FBI Charges 13 Russians in Elaborate Plot to Sow Discord and Influence 2016 Election](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/bZUzvqw0/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2018-02-16. The FBI Charges 13 Russians in Elaborate Plot to Sow Discord and Influence 2016 Election_


---

Jul 27, 2023 11:30 PM UTC

---

## More From This Series

[All Videos](https://time.com/video/)

[FBI Director Warns of Russian Influence Ahead of the 2020 Election](/video/pxBoIZUt/)

### FBI Director Warns of Russian Influence Ahead of the 2020 Election

[FBI Director Christopher Wray Says Russia Continues to Sow Discord in the U.S.](/video/Qdcxsv5L/)

### FBI Director Christopher Wray Says Russia Continues to Sow Discord in the U.S.

[12 Russian Intelligence Officers Charged Over 2016 Election Hacking](/video/4HEn6RxQ/)

### 12 Russian Intelligence Officers Charged Over 2016 Election Hacking

---


## Transcript

The indictment charges 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies for committing federal crimes while seeking to interfere in the United States political system, including the 2016 presidential election. The defendants allegedly conducted what they called information warfare Against the United States. With the stated goal of spreading distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general. The conspiracy was part of a larger operation called Project Lockdown. The defendants allegedly purchase space on computer servers. Located here in the United States in order to set up a virtual private network.

The defendants allegedly used that infrastructure to establish hundreds of accounts on social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter making it appear that those accounts were controlled by persons located in the United States. The defendants posed as politically and socially active Americans. Advocating for and against particular candidates. They establish social media pages and groups to communicate with unwitting Americans. The defendants and their co- conspirators pretended to be grass roots activists. According to the indictment, the Americans did not know That they were communicating with Russians.

After the election the defendant's allegedly staged rallies to support the president elect while simultaneously staging rallies to protest his election. There is no allegation in the indictment that the charge conduct alter the outcome of the 2016 election.

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