Russian Officials Charged With U.S. Disinformation Scheme
- State duma deputy chair and two staff members indicted in N.Y.
- They tried to advance Russia’s interest among Congress members
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Three Russian government officials were charged with conspiring to affect U.S. policy towards Russia with staged events and propaganda -- including efforts to influence members of Congress.
An indictment against Aleksandr Babakov, deputy chairman of the state duma, Russia’s lower legislative body, and two members of his staff was unsealed Thursday in Manhattan federal court. Babakov, Aleksandr Vorobev and Mikhail Plisyuk were accused of trying to influence members of Congress and others to advance Russia’s interests, with one unidentified lawmaker being offered a free trip to Crimea in 2017.