Staffers say internal campaign documents were leaked on a file sharing website late Friday.<\/b>
\nFrench presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron may have been the victim of a \u201cmassive, co-ordinated hacking\u201d on Friday, BBC reports. According to Macron\u2019s campaign staff, a number of internal documents were leaked on a file-sharing website late Friday night, less than 48 hours before the election.
The front-runner\u2019s staff said some of the leaked files were fake, while others were authentic, in what they believe is an attempt to introduce \u201cdoubt and misinformation\u201d into the campaign. The documents contained emails and financial data, but demonstrated nothing more than the normal workings of a presidential campaign, the staff said.
\u201cThe leaked files were obtained several weeks ago by hacking personal and professional email accounts of several officials of the movement, \u201d reads a campaign statement. They added: \u201cThe seriousness of this event is certain and we shall not tolerate that the vital interests of democracy be put at risk.\u201d
Friday\u2019s hacking appears to have been timed to coincide with the start of the official ban on election campaigning, which is now in place. The ban will remain effective until polling stations close late Sunday, and forbids commentary that might influence the election. As a result, an interior ministry official declined to comment on news of the hacking.
In the past, Macron\u2019s staff has complained of hacking attempts, pointing to Russia as a potential source. In April, the staff said they were the victim of hackers attempting to steal email credentials, though no internal campaign data was made public. The Kremlin denied any involvement.
The development also comes a day after the French prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into a complaint by Macron that his campaign was being targeted by fake news that aimed to influence the French election. Marine Le Pen, the far-right candidate who is Macron\u2019s rival in the election, alleged in their sole presidential debate Wednesday that he held an offshore account. Macron, who denies the claim, pointed to her financing by Russian banks.
Prior to the reported hacking, Macron was expected to clench the presidency by a wide margin. An Elabe poll after Wednesday\u2019s debate found 63 percent of viewers saying they found Macron more convincing; 34 percent favored Le Pen\u2019s performance.
On Thursday, former U. S. President Obama announced his support for Macron. While Obama said he is \u201cnot planning to get involved in many elections\u201d moving forward, he saw his endorsement of Macron as necessary, seeing as \u201cthe success of France matters to the entire world.\u201d<\/p>\n

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