Thread by @jseldin

BREAKING: @DNI_Ratcliffe says #IRAN is behind threatening emails about #Election2020

"These actions are desperate attempts by desperate adversaries" he says

MORE: #Iran #Russia have obtained voter registration information, per @DNI_Ratcliffe

"We will not tolerate foreign interfere in our elections" he says, promising "costs & consequences"

NEW: "You should be confident your vote counts" per @FBI Dir. Christopher Wray, maintaining US election infrastructure remains secure

"We are not going to let our guard down"

#Election2020

#Iran, #Russia have "taken specific action to influence public opinion" per @DNI_Ratcliffe, blaming Iran for the threatening emails

"#Iran is distributing other content to include a video that implies individuals could cast fraudulent ballots even from overseas" per @DNI_Ratcliffe "This video & any claims about such allegedly fraudulent ballots are not true"

"These actions are desperate attempts by desperate adversaries" per @DNI_Ratcliffe re #Iran #Russia

"Even if the adversaries pursue further attempts to intimidate or attempt to undermine voter confidence, know that our election systems are resilient...your votes are secure"

"Although we have not seen the same actions from #Russia, we are aware that they have obtained some voter information just as they did in 2016" adds @DNI_Ratcliffe

"Rest assured that we are prepared for the possibility of actions by those hostile to democracy" per @DNI_Ratcliffe "The great women & men of the intelligence community caught this activity immediately &our colleagues at @FBI & DHS acted swiftly"

#Election2020

"We are standing before you know to give you the confidence that we are on top of this & providing you w/the most powerful weapon we have to combat these efforts - the truth, information" per @DNI_Ratcliffe

"Do not allow these efforts to have their intended effect" says @DNI_Ratcliffe "If you receive an intimidating or manipulative email in your inbox, don't be alarmed, and do not spread it"

#Election2020 #Iran #Russia

"We will not tolerate foreign interference in our elections & we will continue to work w/our many partners to disrupt & to impose cost & consequences on any adversary that attempts to interfere in our democratic processes" per @DNI_Ratcliffe

#Election2020

"We have confirmed that some voter registration information has been obtained by #Iran & separately by #Russia" per @DNI_Ratcliffe

"This data can be used by foreign actors to attempt to communicate false information to registered voters that they hope will cause confusion, sow chaos & undermine your confidence in American democracy" per @DNI_Ratcliffe

"We have already seen #Iran sending spoofed emails designed to intimidate voters, incite social unrest & damage President Trump" per @DNI_Ratcliffe, apparently referencing emails made to look like they came from the Proud Boys

NEW from cyber security firm @Mandiant

"This incident marks a fundamental shift in our understanding of Iran’s willingness to interfere in the democratic process" per Senior Director of Analysis @JohnHultquist in statement

"While many of their operations have been focused on promoting propaganda in pursuit of #Iran’s interests, this incident is clearly aimed at undermining voter confidence" per @JohnHultquist

BACKGROUND on voter registration data

There was a report from @kommersant in September that #Michigan's voter registration rolls had been hacked by #Russia - something @MichSoS quickly denied

https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1300814369215963139?s=20

Other election officials also warned against fears adversaries would need to hack that sort of information

"Americans should be wary" a @NASEDorg official told @VOANews at the time "Registration lists are public information, available for purchase or for free from the states"

More recently, @FBI Dir. Christopher Wray said there was no evidence of #cyber attacks on "voter registration databases or on any systems involved in primary voting"

https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1306316157356593152?s=20