‘No allegation’ in Russia indictments that meddling altered 2016 US vote

Washington (AFP) – The US indictment Friday of 13 Russians for actively meddling in the 2016 presidential race makes no suggestion they influenced the outcome of the election which brought Donald Trump to power, the Justice Department said.

“There is no allegation in the indictment that the charged conduct altered the outcome of the 2016 election,” Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told a news conference.

In addition, he said, “there is no allegation in this indictment that any American was a knowing participant in this illegal activity.”

The indictment, which focused on a Russian social media operation, was issued by special prosecutor Robert Mueller, who is investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and a Russian bid to influence the election.