On September 6, 2017, the Washington Post reported that Facebook had informed congressional investigators that it had discovered through an internal review of 2015-17 advertising sales that approximately $150,000 in political ads were likely purchased by a Russia-based social media troll operation. The paper also reported that a number of the ads mentioned presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton by name.
On September 7, 2017, Common Cause filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging that one or more unknown foreign nationals made expenditures, independent expenditures or disbursements in connection with the 2016 presidential election in violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act.