FBI raids home of analyst Dimitri Simes, Russia dubs it 'witch-hunt'
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FBI agents raided the Virginia home of Dimitri Simes, a Russian-born policy analyst with ties to Donald Trump's campaign, prompting concerns of political intimidation and double standards.
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Dimitri Simes, American political scientist and Russia’s Channel One host (TASS)
FBI agents raided on August 13 the Virginia home of Dimitri Simes, an author and policy analyst who advised Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and currently hosts a program on Russia’s Channel One.
The raid, initially reported by Rappahannock News, had cited the FBI as their source of information.
Simes, who was abroad at the time, stated he had not been notified about the search in advance and was unaware of any ongoing investigation involving him.
Simes' name has been mentioned over 100 times in the 2019 Mueller report on alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.
"I’m puzzled and concerned," he said, before adding, "I have not seen a warrant. I was not contacted by any law enforcement or anyone else whatsoever."
In an interview for Sputnik News, Simes said that the raid "clearly is an attempt to intimidate, not only somebody from Russia but just anyone who goes against official policies and particularly against the deep state."
More significantly, Simes underscored, "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."
On his part, Simes' son Dimitri Simes Jr. told Sputnik that his father, since 2022, has not been to the US.
In a tweet on X, Jr. wrote: "The Biden regime is terrified of being called out over Ukraine and Israel," adding, "Elements of Biden regime are trying to disrupt any possibility for de-escalation with Russia and plunge America into World War III."
Antonov calls out US for 'witch-hunt'
Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov commented on the incident saying that the "attacks by the US authorities on the TV presenter of Channel One are one of many facts of the ‘witch hunt’ unfolding here with renewed vigor."
Antonov explained that these attacks come against the backdrop of the US election campaigns amid a growing nationwide crackdown against those who Washington claims are Russian foreign assets working "in violation of foreign agent laws."
Antonov expressed concern, saying, "We are certainly worried about what is happening." He criticized Washington for its "double standards in the field of democracy and freedom of speech," noting that "hundreds of people are declared objectionable simply because they dare to contradict the administration's policies," leading to actions such as "home break-ins, searches, and seizure of documents."
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