The Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated a comprehensive criminal investigation targeting Americans who have collaborated with Russia’s state television networks. This move signals an aggressive approach to countering the Kremlin’s influence operations ahead of the upcoming presidential election, as confirmed by American officials familiar with the investigation.
Earlier this month, FBI agents conducted searches at the homes of two high-profile individuals connected to Russian state media: Scott Ritter, a former United Nations weapons inspector known for his criticism of U.S. foreign policy, and Dimitri K. Simes, an advisor to former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. While no charges have been announced against either man, officials have indicated that additional searches and potential criminal charges could follow.
This investigation follows the Biden administration’s intelligence findings, which revealed that Russia’s state news organizations, including RT (Russia Today), are collaborating with Russian intelligence agencies to influence elections worldwide. The upcoming U.S. presidential election, pitting Trump against Vice President Kamala Harris, is a primary focus of these operations. Intelligence officials have indicated that, for the third time, the Kremlin’s propaganda machinery is actively supporting Trump’s candidacy. This support has manifested through the creation of online news outlets and fake videos designed to undermine President Joe Biden and, more recently, Vice President Harris.
The DOJ’s investigation is centered on potential violations of U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, as well as breaches of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which requires the disclosure of lobbying activities conducted on behalf of foreign governments.
This inquiry is politically charged, revisiting the contentious debate over Russian influence in the 2016 presidential campaign. The investigation’s focus on Americans working with Russian state-run news organizations raises concerns about potential conflicts with First Amendment protections of free speech.
On July 29, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a warning that Russia is exploiting “witting and unwitting Americans” to propagate narratives favorable to President Vladimir Putin’s government. These individuals are reportedly involved in social media postings, writing for websites connected to the Russian government, and engaging in other media activities.
The DOJ’s investigation does not target ordinary Americans who watch or discuss Russian state media online. Instead, it focuses on individuals intentionally spreading disinformation from Moscow, according to officials.
Scott Ritter, a contributing writer for RT, expressed his belief that the search of his home in Delmar, New York, on August 7, was an attempt to intimidate him for his political views on the U.S., Russia, and the war in Ukraine. During the search, FBI agents and state police seized mobile phones, computers, and hard drives, but Ritter was not arrested. He described the investigation as “an absolute frontal assault on the Constitution of the United States.”
The full scope of the crackdown remains unclear, and DOJ officials have declined to comment. However, the Biden administration has grown increasingly concerned about Russia’s influence operations targeting the U.S. In recent months, the DOJ has taken steps to dismantle a covert campaign aimed at sowing discord in the U.S. and spreading Russian propaganda about the war in Ukraine. In collaboration with Canada, the Netherlands, and Elon Musk’s social media platform X, the DOJ successfully took down 968 inauthentic accounts linked to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and RT.
Dimitri K. Simes, a Soviet-born American citizen and long-time figure in U.S. foreign policy circles, is also under investigation. Simes has been linked to violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which underpins U.S. economic sanctions. On August 13, FBI agents searched Simes’ 132-acre estate in Virginia, which he had purchased in 2021. Simes, who has been living in Russia since October 2022, is a host of a weekly talk show on Russia’s Channel One.
In an interview with Sputnik, another Russian state network, Simes speculated that the search of his property was an attempt to silence those who advocate for improved U.S.-Russia relations. He reported that his bank accounts had been frozen, with the exception of one receiving Social Security checks, and expressed concern that Soviet and Russian avant-garde paintings had been seized.
Since 2017, RT has been required to register as a foreign agent in the U.S., a move that reflects the government’s view of its operations as an extension of Russian state control. The legal boundaries of FARA’s application to journalists working for state-controlled news organizations remain ambiguous, complicating the investigation’s focus.
Ritter, who has contributed to RT since 2020, stated that his compensation per article was standard for the industry, and he faced typical editorial oversight. He has been an outspoken defender of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, often echoing Russia’s narrative that blames the U.S. and NATO for the conflict. Ritter speculated that the investigation is rooted in national security concerns, suspecting that authorities believe he may be more than a propagandist — potentially a “weapon of disinformation” working against U.S. interests.
 has initiated a comprehensive criminal investigation targeting Americans who have collaborated with Russia’s state television networks. This move signals an aggressive approach to countering the Kremlin’s influence operations ahead of the upcoming presidential election, as confirmed by American officials familiar with the investigation.){kind=link}