An American journalist published a 271-page opposition research file on former President Donald Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, which appears to have been stolen from Trump’s presidential campaign. The document is believed to be part of an Iranian effort to manipulate the U.S. election. The journalist, Ken Klippenstein, self-publishes on Substack and decided to publish the file, highlighting the influence of independent journalists in the media ecosystem. Several news outlets and independent journalists had previously received the document but did not publish it, citing a lack of newsworthy content.
The dissemination of the Vance file is seen as a hack-and-leak operation similar to Russian efforts in 2016. The Trump campaign acknowledged being hacked by Iran but did not provide details. Three U.S. agencies have attributed the hack to Iran, but Iranian officials deny involvement. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has stated that Iran seeks to damage Trump’s candidacy. Klippenstein was temporarily suspended by X, formerly Twitter, for violating posting rules.
Overall, the incident highlights the growing role of independent journalists and alternative platforms in the media landscape, as well as the challenges posed by foreign influence operations in the digital age. The publication of the document has raised questions about journalistic ethics, freedom of information, and the role of social media platforms in controlling the spread of potentially sensitive material.
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