WASHINGTON _ Federal prosecutors said Friday they thwarted a new attempt by Russia to create phony personae of American political activists and stir up trouble on divisive issues like immigration and gun control to sway U.S. voters in the run-up to midterm elections.
The Justice Department unsealed a criminal complaint that charged a Russian woman, Elena Alekseevna Khusyaynova, 44, with taking part in a Russian effort to sow political divisions in the United States, Europe and the Ukraine.
The charges came on a day in which top U.S. intelligence and security officials sought to reassure Americans, barely 2{ weeks before midterm elections, that they have strengthened defenses against hacking of U.S. election systems and have not detected any successful breaches.
