SC’s Haley says Iran tried to hurt her presidential campaign as part of meddling effort

The State-Sept 9th2024

By Joseph Bustos

Iran meddled in the GOP presidential primary in order to hurt former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s presidential bid, she told CBS Face the Nation in an interview that aired Sunday. Haley said during her campaign, the FBI met with her to tell her of Iran’s efforts. However, during the interview she did not give specific details as she warned of efforts by foreign countries to interfere in U.S. elections.

The revelation follows the release of FBI documents last week that showed Iran targeted Haley and President Joe Biden for assassination attempts. Previously it was reported Iran plotted to assassinate former President Donald Trump. “Look at the murder for hire plot on US soil, which I was named in, by Iran,” Haley said. “Look at the Russian disinformation, which didn’t start this year. This has been going on for years. Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, to some extent, they have spent years on the cheapest form of warfare is, which is, how do you divide Americans and cause chaos? They have done that.” During Haley’s presidential bid, her campaign, which paid for private security, formally requested Secret Service protection. Haley ended her bid before the agency granted protection.

Haley served as ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration, which pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal brokered during President Barack Obama’s administration. Other members of Trump’s administration have faced death threats from Iran, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton. Haley’s comments came in response to the Justice Department’s case against Russia for running a $10 million disinformation campaign in the U.S. which relied on right-wing media.

Haley, who recently visited Taiwan, said the U.S. needs to be aware of threats from China, Iran and Russia, as well as foreign influence on social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok. “Our social media companies owe Americans from a national security perspective,” Haley said. “How many of these foreign bots are dividing us? Every bit of our government, influencers, press and media need to say. How many of these foreign influencers are buying people, and what are we doing to protect us? Nothing.” Also in the interview, Haley said she has not been asked by the Trump campaign to stump for the former president’s bid to return to the White House. Haley endorsed Trump at the Republican National Convention in July.

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