In addition to investigating Russia’s meddling in the presidential election, the FBI is looking into some right-wing websites that potentially helped Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton, according to McClatchy.
The FBI wants to know if websites like Breitbart News and InfoWars were connected to Russia’s alleged attempt to interfere with the election results in an effort to increase Trump’s chances at beating Clinton.
Citing “two people familiar with the inquiry,” McClatchy reported that the FBI wants to know if the sites had any role in “a Russian cyber operation that dramatically widened the reach of news stories,” some of which included fake news.
McClatchy notes that automated computer commands known as “bots” distribute to social media stories that are pro-Trump or anti-Clinton.
“The bots’ end products were largely millions of Twitter and Facebook posts carrying links to stories on conservative internet sites such as Breitbart News and InfoWars, as well as on the Kremlin-backed RT News and Sputnik News,” McClatchy reported.
The anonymous sources told McClatchy that bot attacks are part of an FBI-led investigation into a multifaceted Russian operation to influence America’s presidential election.
According to the report, the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division is leading the investigation, which remains in its “early stages.”
The FBI declined comment to McClatchy.
“This may be one of the most highly impactful information operations in the history of intelligence,” an anonymous source told the site.
FBI director James Comey admitted for the first time on Monday that the bureau is investigating if anyone from the Trump campaign worked with Russia to influence the election.