‘Russians failed to crack voting systems’

WASHINGTON: Russian operations meant to polarise US voters continued during the midterm elections, but did not compromise the voting systems used, according to a study by the US intelligence community.

The assessment by Dan Coats, director of National Intelligence, was the result of a request by the White House before the November vote that he examine election meddling by Russia and other powers.

The agency did not release that report, but Coats released a statement.

“Russia and other foreign countries, including China and Iran, conducted influence activities and messaging campaigns targeted at the US to promote their strategic interests (during the midterm elections),” Coats said in the statement.

The statement contained little detail, but US officials said the intelligence report found that Russia continued to use social media, fake personas and Moscow-controlled media to influence positions on opposite ideological sides with an aim of further polarising the US.

The report will be sent to the US justice department and the department of homeland security.

Under the executive order issued in September, automatic sanctions could be imposed when the government review is complete on anyone found to have tried to manipulate the midterm polls.

Coats said in his statement that the report did not include an assessment of the effectiveness of the Russian information campaign. The public report also did not include an assessment on whether Russian attempts at election meddling were tilted towards a particular party or candidate.