Mueller charges 13 Russian nationals and 3 Russian entities with interfering in the 2016 election

Thomson Reuters

Robert Mueller.

Special counsel Robert Mueller's office has charged three Russian entities and 13 Russian nationals with "violating US criminal laws in order to interfere with US elections and political processes."

The charges were directed primarily toward the Internet Research Agency (IRA), an infamous Russian "troll factory" which focused on sowing political discord during the 2016 race by using Russian bots to spread fake news and pro-President Donald Trump propaganda on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms.

The 13 Russian nationals who were charged were indicted for working in "various capacities to carry out" the IRA's "interference operations targeting the United States."

Among the defendants was Russian businessman Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, who is accused of using his companies, Concord Management and Consulting LLC and Concord Catering, to fund the IRA's work.

According to the court documents, the defendants began monitoring US social media around May 2014. After gaining insight into the country's political climate, they "engaged in operations primarily intended to communicate derogatory information about Hillary Clinton, to denigrate other candidates such as Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and to support Bernie Sanders and then-candidate Donald Trump."

This story is developing. Check back for updates.