By Janet Ekstract NEW YORK – In a White House press briefing on Friday, White House National Security Advisor Admiral John Kirby informed the press about the ever-present threat Russia poses with its continual disinformation campaigns to attempt at influencing the American voters. Kirby explained that the Biden administration “took a series of coordinated actions against foreign actors funded by RT” otherwise known as Russia Today, that Kirby said is “bolstering pro-Russian policies.” He emphasized that this isn’t the first time Russia has tried to influence American elections and that RT is a “propaganda arm” of the Russian government whose goal is to influence how Americans vote. Kirby added that RT is being used “to advance covert Russian actions” and that the Kremlin has infiltrated commercial firms. This is why Kirby emphasized that all Americans must “consider how you get your information,” adding that it’s not a good idea to rely solely on social media since there are numerous sites pushing misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms.
Admiral Kirby said as a result of a months-long investigative process that new actions are being taken to restrict visas for Russians known to be involved with groups like RT. He reiterated that the Biden administration is “committed to protecting our democracy and our elections” and that “we have the ability to monitor this and to thwart these actions.” Kirby said that the American people “can rest assured” that those working in the federal government are diligently combating this situation. He said that currently there is a $10 million reward out for anyone who has credible information on a group called the Russian Angry Hackers Did It who have previously been involved in election interference and influence abroad. There are also new sanctions being placed on six Russian officials involved with such groups.
Kirby signaled a warning about known election interference from Iran especially on the Trump campaign which the admiral called unacceptable. He said that Iran’s goal has been to compromise Trump’s reelection campaign. Meanwhile, he said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “weighing Iran’s reactions” to how the U.S. handles the situation. Kirby added that “Russia is trying to sow discord, feed disinformation and put voices out there that the American people might find credible.” He pointed out that “This is consistent with what Putin has done in the past. When asked about how to deter such influences in the future, Kirby said “They’ll find workarounds” and “That’s why its crucial that everyone be vigilant about where they get their information from.”
