Ken Klippenstein leaks Iran’s hacked Trump campaign document on Substack

An independent journalist published a stolen 271-page document believed to be part of an Iranian effort to manipulate the U.S. election, targeting former President Donald Trump’s running mate Sen. JD Vance. The journalist, Ken Klippenstein, shared the file on his Substack newsletter, criticizing mainstream media for not covering the information. The dissemination of the Vance file mirrors past hack-and-leak operations, such as Russian interference in the 2016 election. Multiple outlets and independent journalists received the document but did not find it newsworthy until Klippenstein published it. The Iranian hack and subsequent distribution of files have been attributed to Iran by three U.S. agencies, though Iranian officials deny involvement. The Trump campaign, which was targeted, accused Iran of the hack. In response to Klippenstein’s publication, X, formerly known as Twitter, took action by suspending his account and blocking accounts that shared the link. Klippenstein defended his decision, stating he stands by it despite violating X’s rules. The incident highlights how independent journalists on platforms like Substack can influence election influence operations and media coverage. The broader impact of such actions on election integrity and the role of social media platforms in policing content remains a topic of debate.

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