KANSAS CITY, MO — On Wednesday, U.S. intelligence officials confirmed that Russia and Iran are interfering by sending threatening emails to voters and messages on social media.
Now a Rockhurst University Political Science professor, is encouraging voters to maintain their confidence in U.S. elections despite the interference from Russia and Iran.
"I mean, these foreign adversaries they want chaos right? They want us to not trust our elections. They want us to not trust the democratic process, Ringenberg said. "So that's why they're making some these attempts to try to sow doubt, try to sow fear, try to sow division. But like I said some of this only works to the extent that these feelings are already there in the public and they're just trying to pour gas on the fire and make things worse."
The intelligence officials said Russia and Iran hacked local and state data bases and stole voter contact information. Those voters received emails stating that there would be trouble if the voter failed to vote for President Trump.
Ringenberg said that foreign countries are strategically interfering at a time when Americans are dealing with the pandemic, teaching their children at home, facing job losses foreclosures and on the verge of the most contentious elections in U.S. history.
The emails appear to be sent by the white supremacist group, the Proud Boys; but U.S. intelligence leaders said they were sent from Russia and Iran. Professor Ringenberg does not believe the threatening emails are designed to support either candidates.
"I don't know that it lends you to say, well this is supposed to help democrats or this is supposed to help republicans. I think it's just supposed to kind of sow chaos and make people not turnout to vote or not trust the election," Ringenberg said.
"In some ways, it's a two for one. You're (Russia and Iran) getting both sides deeper entrenched, more polarized and then you're attacking the system in general where people might think that their vote isn't secret or there might be some repercussions for the way they vote," he said. "I think the secret ballot is something we figured out in the United States and so that's not something that voters should worry about," he added.
Ringenberg said there is a silver lining. He says the U.S. intelligence community discovered the foreign interference, and informed the public.
Now Ringenberg said the public can relax and know the threats are empty and they should vote with confidence.
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