The Russian government requested U.S. states allow foreign officials to monitor polling stations on Election Day, according to multiple reports Thursday evening.
State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner called the Kremlin’s move a “PR stunt,” denying the U.S. refused to let Russian diplomats observe people voting on Nov. 8. But State did denounce the requests, even as Homeland Security Department officials told State attorneys “not to do this,” according to Meg Casper, spokeswoman for Louisiana Sec. of State Tom Schedler.
Russia has allegedly repeatedly interfered in the U.S. presidential election this year, including hacking Democrat organizations’ emails and state voter registration servers. These disturbances may explain why the State Department didn’t hold its tongue.
Hillary Clinton has claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin wants Donald Trump to win the White House. More specifically, she has charged over the past few weeks that Russia is trying to manipulate the election to ensure the Republican candidate wins.
