Escalating tensions between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Elon Musk continue, with Musk’s insults targeting Scholz and other German politicians, including labeling Scholz “Oaf Schitz” and endorsing the far-right AfD party. This intervention has prompted accusations of election interference from Berlin and a formal rebuke from Scholz. Musk’s actions, leveraging his ownership of X (formerly Twitter), demonstrate his growing political influence. Scholz, however, remains resolute, vowing to ignore the personal attacks.
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In response to election interference attempts, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Iranian and Russian entities. These entities, linked to the IRGC and GRU respectively, allegedly sought to influence the 2024 election through disinformation campaigns and the creation of deepfakes targeting the U.S. electorate. Both Iran and Russia denied the allegations. The sanctions highlight the U.S.’s commitment to safeguarding its democratic processes from foreign interference.
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The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated the IRGC’s Cognitive Design Production Center (CDPC) and the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE), along with its director Valery Korovin, for election interference. These entities, acting as affiliates of the IRGC and GRU respectively, engaged in disinformation campaigns and influence operations aimed at disrupting the 2024 U.S. election. The sanctions build upon previous actions targeting Iranian and Russian interference and utilize Executive Order 13848, the U.S. election interference authority, among others. These designations freeze U.S. assets and prohibit transactions with the named entities and individuals.
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John Q. Hosedrinker