JD Vance Dossier Hacked by Iran Published by Leftist Activist, Triggering X Account Suspension

Left-wing journalist Ken Klippenstein sparked outrage on Thursday after publishing a hacked dossier on Ohio Senator JD Vance, a key figure in the 2024 presidential race. The dossier, believed to have originated from Iranian hackers targeting the Trump campaign, contained sensitive information that ultimately led to Klippenstein’s account being suspended on X (formerly Twitter).

Elon Musk, who owns X, condemned the release of the dossier in a statement, citing the serious risks posed by doxxing high-profile figures. “This is one of the most egregious, evil doxxing actions we’ve ever seen,” Musk said. He emphasized that Trump, the Republican front-runner, has already survived two assassination attempts and that the dossier included personal details, including the addresses of children of those involved in the campaign. Klippenstein’s decision to publish the 271-page dossier, which was initially hacked by Iranian operatives, has added fuel to concerns about foreign interference in U.S. elections.

The dossier appears to have been part of opposition research prepared by the Trump campaign to vet JD Vance, who is now the vice presidential candidate. The Iranian regime, which hacked the Trump campaign’s materials, has been distributing this sensitive information to journalists and media outlets. Until Thursday, most had declined to publish the materials, given the security concerns and their origin from a hostile foreign power.

Klippenstein, however, defended his actions on his Substack, stating that the dossier was offered to him and that he believed its contents were of public interest, especially during an election season. “As far as I can tell, it hasn’t been altered, but even if it was, its contents are publicly verifiable,” Klippenstein wrote, justifying his decision to make the hacked document public.

Beyond this specific incident, Iran’s attempts to sabotage Donald Trump’s presidential run have gone beyond cyberattacks. Earlier this year, a Pakistani man, Asif Merchant, was charged with plotting to assassinate Trump, allegedly offering up to $1 million to potential killers. According to FBI Director Christopher Wray, the assassination attempt is consistent with Iran’s playbook, as the regime seeks to destabilize its enemies through both direct and indirect means. “A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any U.S. citizen, is a serious threat to our national security,” Wray said.

Iran’s meddling in U.S. elections underscores the seriousness of foreign threats aimed at influencing American democracy. While the release of the hacked JD Vance dossier is troubling, the broader implications of Iranian interference and its ongoing attempts to prevent Trump’s return to the White House highlight the high stakes of the 2024 election.

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