A new Department of Justice court indictment reveals detailed tactics that Russian operatives allegedly used to influence American opinion ahead of the upcoming elections.
On Friday, Elena Alekaseevna Khusyaynova was indicted for interfering with the 2018 midterm elections.
A criminal complaint by federal prosecutors in Alexandria, Virginia provides step by step details on how Russia used social media as a gateway to influence U.S. elections.
"Members of the conspiracy used social media and other internet platforms to inflame passions on a wide variety of topics," the document states. "Members of the conspiracy took advantage of specific events in the United States to anchor their themes, including the shooting of church members in Charleston, South Carolina."
Adding, "Members of the conspiracy also sought to target the timing of their post to attract the possible widest viewership."
The Russian operatives discussed how to influence public opinion. For example, Russian operatives were told to characterize late Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) as an "old geezer" who had a "pathological hatred" towards Trump. They were also told to cast Mueller as a "puppet of the establishment," according to the indictment.
Read the full complaint here.
Khusyaynova Complaint by RawStory on Scribd