Dimitri Simes, a TV presenter who advised Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, and his wife, Anastasia Simes, are accused of violating sanctions laws by aiding Russian broadcaster Channel One Russia, which is barred from the U.S.
Five Russian individuals with alleged ties to Russia’s GRU intelligence service were also charged on Thursday with hacking Ukrainian government systems ahead of the 2022 invasion of the country.
Matthew Olsen, assistant attorney general of the DOJ’s National Security Division, said the GRU’s WhisperGate campaign has targeted Ukrainian critical infrastructure and government systems of no military value.
The campaign is “emblematic of Russia’s abhorrent disregard for innocent civilians as it wages its unjust invasion,” Olsen said at a press conference.
Dimitri Simes, the longtime head of the Center for the National Interest think tank, served as an informal Trump campaign adviser in the 2016 election. Simes was accused Thursday of receiving more than $1 million in payments from the sanctioned Channel One Russia, while his wife was accused of helping a Russian oligarch evade sanctions by purchasing paintings and antiques and sending them to Russia.
The former adviser was identified in the Mueller report that explored ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia. Simes was known as an individual with extensive ties to Moscow.
The Simes’ home in Virginia was raided in mid-August, but they are believed to be in Russia.
The indictments Thursday come one day after the DOJ accused two employees with the Russian media company RT of working with an American company to promote pro-Russia content and spread disinformation ahead of the U.S. election.
The U.S. on Wednesday also seized 23 different websites used by Russia to influence the 2024 election.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that he preferred Vice President Harris to win the election, saying he previously supported President Biden before he dropped out and would do “the same” with his successor.
“She laughs so expressively and infectiously that it means that everything is fine with her,” Putin said.
