A federal grand jury has indicted 12 Russian intelligence officers for hacking offences related to the 2016 presidential election, the Justice Department announced on Friday.
The grand jury indictment, part of Robert Mueller’s special counsel probe, alleges intelligence officers of Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) hacked into the computer networks of the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee, among other offences.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein made the announcement, as Attorney General Jeff Session has recused himself from any investigations into Russian interference, having been an advocate of Trump during the campaign.
Trump and several Republicans have criticized that decision, as well as Rosenstein’s appointment of Mueller as special counsel after the president fired FBI director James Comey less than halfway into his 10-year term.
Trump, meanwhile, has been criticized for being reluctant to speak publicly about Russian interference into the campaign.
The announcement comes as Trump prepares to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Helsinki next week. Trump has said he believes Putin’s denials that Russia did not meddle in the election.