Russian trolls are innocent because they didn't know election interference was illegal, their lawyers say

Internet troll.
(Image credit: iStock.)

The Russians accused of meddling in the 2016 presidential election can't be convicted because they didn't know that political interference was illegal, their lawyers have argued.

Using this dubious defense, attorneys are hoping to free Russian nationals who worked for the Internet Research Agency, a Kremlin-backed troll farm that spread online propaganda, The Daily Beast reported Monday. Thirteen Russians have been indicted as part of the investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, accused of conspiring to defraud the U.S. and spreading false information to sway the 2016 election. But some of those Russians are saying they've been accused of "make-believe crimes" because they are foreign nationals unfamiliar with U.S. law.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Explore More
Summer Meza, The Week US

Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.