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U.S. Republican campaign emails hacked months before election

By Ginger Gibson, Christopher Bing and Jim Finkle

 

FILE PHOTO: Silhouettes of laptop users are seen next to a screen projection of binary code are seen in this picture illustration taken March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Emails accounts for a campaign group supporting Republicans running for the U.S. House of Representatives were hacked before this year's congressional elections, according to a person familiar with the situation.

 

Hackers used stolen passwords to access a "small number" of National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) email accounts in a hack discovered around April, said the person, who was not authorized to discuss details of the attack.

 

The NRCC changed the passwords at its web-based email provider and took steps to prevent similar attacks, the person said.

 

The person declined to name the email provider and said the hackers did not penetrate the NRCC's own computer systems.

 

The NRCC confirmed it was the victim of a cyberattack by an unknown party, but declined to say what systems were affected.

 

"Upon learning of the intrusion, the NRCC immediately launched an internal investigation and notified the FBI, which is now investigating the matter," NRCC spokesman Ian Prior said via email.

 

He did not elaborate.

 

The hackers used techniques that make them difficult to identify and officials have yet to determine whether they were aligned with a foreign government, said a second person familiar with the case.

 

The news was first reported by Politico, which said the NRCC learned about the attack from a vendor who alerted the committee and its cybersecurity contractor.

 

However senior Republican House leaders, including Speaker Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, were not informed until contacted by the news site, Politico said.

 

An FBI spokeswoman declined comment.

 

A senior U.S. Department of Homeland Security official told Reuters on Tuesday the agency had not been informed by the NRCC or FBI of such an attack.

 

A spokeswoman with the NRCC's cybersecurity contractor, CrowdStrike, declined to comment.

 

During the most recent election cycle, the NRCC raised more than $174 million and spent most of the cash on advertisements trying to help Republicans in difficult races.

 

(Reporting by Ginger Gibson and Chris Bing in Washington and Jim Finkle in New York; editing by Bill Berkrot and Lisa Shumaker)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-12-05

[Emster23]

Fully investigate by FBI. No brainer. Unlike some Republicans in power, I consider an attack on any part of our democracy an attack on all of our democracy. I guess I am old fashioned.

[Tug]

I agree with emster23.  100%. A hack on one is a hack on all

[stevenl]

Why was no information from these hacks leaked? Could it be that the information recovered didn't suit the desired election outcome?

[mikebike]

14 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Why was no information from these hacks leaked? Could it be that the information recovered didn't suit the desired election outcome?

Could easily be that leaking info was not the reason for the hack... need full investigation.

[Chomper Higgot]

31 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Why was no information from these hacks leaked? Could it be that the information recovered didn't suit the desired election outcome?

Perhaps with the increasing likelihood of impeachment proceedings, perhaps against both the President and the VP, somebody feels they need leverage over a few Republicans in the house and the Senate.

[stevenl]

7 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Perhaps with the increasing likelihood of impeachment proceedings, perhaps against both the President and the VP, somebody feels they need leverage over a few Republicans in the house and the Senate.

Thanks, but not an answer to the question at all, unless there were impeachment procedures against Trump and Pence months before the elections.

 

These hacks were done at approximately the same time as the hacks of the Democratic party. One was leaked via Wikileaks, the other not. So my instinct tells me these hacks were done by the same party, with the ultimate goal of influencing the election.

[Redline]

I know who did this!  It was the shadow government run by Soros, the Clinton’s, Oprah, blacks, Hispanics, some Hollywood types, and without a doubt, some city type folks.  Build some private jails I invested in, and lock em all up!

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, stevenl said:

Thanks, but not an answer to the question at all, unless there were impeachment procedures against Trump and Pence months before the elections.

 

These hacks were done at approximately the same time as the hacks of the Democratic party. One was leaked via Wikileaks, the other not. So my instinct tells me these hacks were done by the same party, with the ultimate goal of influencing the election.

I think these hacks were done in 2017 as a prelude to the 2018 mid-term elections: Republicans running for the U.S. House of Representatives were hacked before this year's congressional elections [Nov. 2018]. Maybe for the purpose to target vulnerable Republican candidates in the House who might lose to Democrats - provide the same kind of social media support for those Republican candidates in the same manner as was done in the 2016 elections.

However, it is true that Republican emails were hacked in 2016. https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2016/12/did-russia-hack-rnc-too-heres-what-we-know-so-far/133873/

But there was as I recall never any leaks of hacked Republican materials from the 2016 hacking, unlike that with Democrat emails.

[stevenl]

3 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

I think these hacks were done in 2017 as a prelude to the 2018 mid-term elections: Republicans running for the U.S. House of Representatives were hacked before this year's congressional elections [Nov. 2018]. Maybe for the purpose to target vulnerable Republican candidates in the House who might lose to Democrats - provide the same kind of social media support for those Republican candidates in the same manner as was done in the 2016 elections.

However, it is true that Republican emails were hacked in 2016. https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2016/12/did-russia-hack-rnc-too-heres-what-we-know-so-far/133873/

But there was as I recall never any leaks of hacked Republican materials from the 2016 hacking, unlike that with Democrat emails.

You're right, I misread and thought it was 2016 presidential elections.

And also thanks for the link, but seems unclear the RNC was hacked.

[Scott]

Troll post removed.

 

[bendejo]

Like he said, it could Russia, it could be Cheye-na, it could be a 400 pound guy...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSTGxKKmlXA

 

[Srikcir]

17 hours ago, stevenl said:

seems unclear the RNC was hacked

I recalled the RNC was hacked but couldn't now find any such reference. That's why I said instead "Republican materials" because I wasn't sure what exactly was hacked nor from what Republican source(s). Might have included pro-Republican PACS, individual donors.

[Scott]

Troll post and replies removed.