Breaking: Mueller Charges 13 Russians for Election Interference

Special counsel Robert Mueller has brought charges against 13 Russians for interfering with the 2016 elections.

Three were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud; five were charged with identity theft; and all were charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S.

The 37-page indictment alleges the Russians’ operations “included supporting the presidential campaign of then-candidate Donald J Trump…and disparaging Hillary Clinton."

The indictment reads:

"From in or around 2014 to the present, Defendants knowingly and intentionally conspired with each other (and with persons known and unknown to the Grand Jury) to defraud the United States by impairing, obstructing, and defeating the lawful functions of the government through fraud and deceit for the purpose of interfering with the U.S. political and electoral processes, including the presidential election of 2016."

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein explained the charges in a press conference at the Justice Department. He stressed that "there is no allegation in this indictment that any American was a knowing participant in this illegal activity" or that the Russian interference "altered the outcome of the 2016 election."

Countable will continue updating this story as more details emerge.

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