US grand jury indicts 13 Russians for interfering in 2016 presidential election

A RUSSIAN internet agency and 13 Russians interfered in the US election campaign to support Donald Trump and disparage his rival Hillary Clinton, a special counsel said in an indictment yesterday.

The defendants are accused of violating US criminal laws to interfere with American elections and the political process. Charges include conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The grand jury indictment claims that Russians used bogus social media postings and advertisements fraudulently purchased in the name of Americans to sway political opinion during the race between Republican Mr Trump and his Democratic opponent Mrs Clinton.

The charges are the most direct allegation to date of illegal Russian meddling in the election.

The goal, the indictment said, was to “sow discord in the US political system, including the 2016 presidential election”. US deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein announces charges

The charges arise from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the election and whether there was improper co-ordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

Before yesterday four people, including Mr Trump’s former national security adviser and former campaign chairman, had been charged in Mr Mueller’s investigation.

The White House had no immediate response to the indictment.