Trump campaign says hit by hackers

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WASHINGTON (AFP) – Donald Trump’s campaign said on Saturday it had been hacked, blaming “foreign sources” for distributing internal communications and a dossier on running mate JD Vance.

News outlet Politico reported it had received emails with the campaign material from a source who refused to identify themselves.

“These documents were obtained illegally from foreign sources hostile to the United States, intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.

Cheung cited a report from Microsoft this week that said hackers “sent a spear phishing email in June to a high-ranking official on a presidential campaign”.

The materials received by Politico included research on vetting Vance, Trump’s vice presidential pick.

In 2016, a hack of Democratic National Committee emails exposed internal party communications, including about candidate Hillary Clinton.

Trump, who would go on to win the election, was criticised for encouraging the hack.

Former United States president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during an election campaign rally in Bozeman, Montana. PHOTO: AFP