Russia's lower house of parliament on Friday approved an investigation into the operations of U.S. news organizations in Russia, Reuters reported.

The investigation is reportedly mean to be retaliation for Sen. Jeanne Shaheen Cynthia (Jeanne) Jeanne ShaheenSenate Democrats introduce bill to sanction Russians over Taliban bounties Trump-backed candidate wins NH GOP Senate primary to take on Shaheen Democratic senator urges Trump to respond to Russian aggression MORE's (D-N.H.) bill that would authorize the Justice Department to probe possible violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act by RT, a Russian state-funded media company that has grown its U.S. operations.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Office of the Director of National intelligence suggested in a report in January that RT may be complicit in Russian efforts to meddle in the 2016 U.S. election to help President Trump. The Kremlin-backed news outlet has been largely supportive of the real estate mogul since he was a candidate.

Among the U.S. media organizations that could be investigated by Russia's Duma are CNN, Voice of America and Radio Liberty.

Tensions between the U.S. and Russia have escalated in recent months amid revelations of the Kremlin's efforts to influence the election in Trump's favor.

Questions have also resurfaced about Trump and his aides' potential ties to Moscow, after a slew of news reports in recent weeks detailing contacts between current and former Trump associates and Russian officials.