Wisconsin GOP says hackers stole $2.3 million from account meant to help Trump
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
$2.3 million was recently stolen from a Wisconsin GOP account meant to aid President Trump's re-election campaign, Republican Party chairman Andrew Hitt told the AP on Thursday.
The big picture: Former Vice President Joe Biden is polling ahead in Wisconsin, which is a vital battle ground state in November's election. Although Trump won Wisconsin in 2016, Biden is currently favored to win the state in FiveThirtyEight's latest forecast.
What they're saying: "There's no doubt RPW is now at a disadvantage with that money being gone," Hitt told the AP, adding that the GOP needs funds to make quick decisions late in the race.
Catch up quick: The state's Republican Party first noticed suspicious activity last Thursday and has contacted the FBI, per AP. The hackers used a "sophisticated phishing attack," the Wisconsin GOP said in a statement.
- Hackers manipulated invoices from four vendors who were sending direct mail for Trump’s reelection campaign, alongside merchandise like pro-Trump hats.
- Hitt said that the invoices were altered so that hackers received the money instead of the vendors after the GOP paid up.
- There is no evidence that the hackers acquired proprietary information, the party said in a statement.