Social networking site Twitter on Saturday suspended two accounts linked to 12 Russian spies indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller for interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
On Friday, a federal grand jury charged 12 Russian intelligence officers with hacking Democratic computer networks in 2016 in the most detailed U.S. accusation yet that Moscow meddled in the election to help Republican Donald Trump.
READ MORE: U.S. election officials to meet in Philadelphia amid revelations of Russian election meddling
Twitter said on Saturday it had suspended the accounts @DCLeaks_ and @Guccifer_2 that were named in the indictment, which alleges a wide-ranging conspiracy involving sophisticated hacking and staged release of documents.
The indictment alleges that from around June 2016 the conspirators released tens of thousands of stolen emails and documents “using fictitious online personas, including ‘DCLeaks’ and ‘Guccifer 2.0.’.”
WATCH: Trump blames Obama for Russia’s DNC hack
In a statement on Saturday, a Twitter spokesman said: “The accounts have been suspended for being connected to a network of accounts previously suspended for operating in violation of our rules.”
-
![]()
Germany Christmas market attack: At least 2 dead, dozens injured after man drives car into crowd -
![]()
American diplomat meets with new Syrian leader -
![]()
‘Out of touch’: Mayotte residents criticize Macron’s visit to cyclone-ravaged archipelago -
![]()
Knife attack at Croatia school kills 7-year-old child, injures others
Friday’s indictment was the first by Mueller that directly charges the Russian government with meddling in the election. The Kremlin denies it interfered.
Get daily National news
WATCH: After 12 indictments of Russian military officers, Trump blames Obama
Speaking at a cybersecurity conference in Philadelphia on Saturday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said the indictments proved that the United States “will not tolerate interference with our democratic processes and that there will be consequences for foreign meddling.”
Comments