High-Profile Federal Raid Linked to Foreign Influence Investigation

The federal raid on Dmitri Simes’ home has left many questioning the broader implications for U.S. national security and foreign influence.

At a Glance

The FBI raided Dmitri Simes’ Virginia home on August 13 amid a foreign influence probe.
Simes, a former adviser to Donald Trump, was “puzzled and concerned” by the raid.
Simes was heavily mentioned in Robert Mueller’s 2019 report on Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The FBI is targeting U.S. citizens with ties to Russian media ahead of the 2024 presidential elections.

Federal Raid Raises Questions

The FBI raided the Virginia home of Dmitri Simes, a Russian-American political analyst and commentator, on August 13. This action has intensified the ongoing examination of foreign influence within American political spheres. Simes, currently residing in Moscow, has called the FBI’s actions “puzzled and concerned.”

The raid, which began on August 13, was confirmed to have been reported by Rappahannock News three days later. Despite being out of the country, Simes has expressed his perplexity through statements and Russian media, noting that he had not been informed of the raid beforehand. Simes’ Virginia property has been under scrutiny due to his previous advisory role to former President Donald Trump and his controversial stance on U.S.-Russia relations.

Money quote:

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[Dimitri Simes] told me he left the U.S. because, in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, “I didn’t think I could express my opinion here anymore.” He saw the U.S. response as “a crusade against Russia” and he didn’t agree with it. https://t.co/4XnOP1NdW9

— Mauro Gilli (@Mauro_Gilli) August 21, 2024

A Controversial Figure

Simes was born in Moscow in 1947 and emigrated to the United States in 1973. He played a significant role in U.S. politics, serving as an informal adviser to former President Richard Nixon and providing guidance during Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. In 2023, he moderated a session with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Simes has been active in key political and diplomatic collaborations, drawing attention from various U.S. authorities. The FBI’s recent moves appear to be part of a larger initiative to curb “Kremlin influence” and prevent the spread of disinformation as the November presidential elections approach. Simes has argued that his long absence from the U.S. and his involvement with non-American broadcasters make the raid unjustifiable, stating, “First of all, I repeat that I have not been in the United States for almost two years…”

Just let this sink in: "FBI agents have raided and searched the Virginia home of Dimitri Simes…whose name was included more than 100 times in the 2019 Mueller report into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election…" https://t.co/rypg2XYQRS

— Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) August 21, 2024

A Broader Pattern of Surveillance

Earlier this month, the FBI also raided the New York home of Scott Ritter, a former UN weapons inspector and prominent contributor to Russian media. Ritter has openly supported Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and has had his passport seized by U.S. authorities since June, preventing him from attending the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

“The US government works overtime to stigmatize any journalism possessing connectivity with Russia,” – Scott Ritter

Further reflecting on the FBI’s actions, Simes revealed through various media outlets that the raid possibly aims to deter him from returning to the United States, a sentiment shared by other figures targeted in these crackdowns. His son, Dimitri Simes Jr., tweeted, “The Biden administration is trying to disrupt de-escalation with Russia and plunge America into World War III.”

The Response From Moscow

Russia has criticized these raids, calling them part of a “witch hunt” and accusing the U.S. of exploiting double standards on democracy and free speech issues. Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov highlighted that there is an ongoing crackdown on what Washington labels as Russian foreign assets under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

“My suspicion is that instead of trying to get me to come to the United States and to interrogate me or even to arrest me, their real purpose is to make sure that I would not come back.” – Dmitri Simes

While the FBI has not brought any charges against Simes or Ritter as of now, the government continues to prepare for additional raids and potential criminal accusations. These actions stand at a critical intersection of national security, diplomacy, and legal interpretations of free speech.