NewsCovering Florida

Actions

DeSantis: Russians accessed 2 Florida voting databases

Photos: Election Day 2018 across the nation
Posted
and last updated

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - After an FBI briefing, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says Russian hackers gained access to voter databases in two Florida counties ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

DeSantis said Tuesday the hackers didn't manipulate any data and the election results weren't compromised.

The governor said he signed an agreement with the FBI not to disclose the names of the counties, but elections officials in those counties are aware of the intrusions.

He said the hackers gained access through a spearfishing email after a worker clicked a link.

Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio has previously said at least one Florida county had an intrusion. Special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in the 2016 election also said hackers gained access to the network of at least one Florida county.

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)