The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has accused several prominent right-wing social media influencers of unknowingly participating in a Russian operation aimed at influencing the 2024 US presidential election. According to CNN, these influencers, who collectively reach millions of Americans, were allegedly used as conduits for Russian propaganda without realizing the source of their financial backing.
Court documents unsealed this week reveal that Russian state media funneled nearly $10 million through Tenet Media, a Tennessee-based online media company. Influencers such as Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Lauren Southern, Tayler Hansen, Matt Christiansen, and Dave Rubin were employed by the company. While none of these individuals are directly charged with wrongdoing, the indictment suggests they may have inadvertently promoted Russian interests.
Two employees of Russian state media, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, have been charged with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and money laundering. The DOJ alleges that Russia aimed to advance narratives that supported Kremlin objectives, including fostering domestic political division, undermining US support for Ukraine, and boosting conservative figures like Donald Trump.
Tenet Media, founded in 2022 by conservative Canadian YouTuber Lauren Chen and her husband Liam Donovan, positions itself as a platform for diverse political and cultural viewpoints. The company has not yet responded to the allegations. Its roster includes former mainstream journalists turned independent creators, like Tim Pool and Benny Johnson, and has grown influential through its far-right programming and high-profile interviews.
The DOJ alleges that despite the influencers’ claims of editorial independence, their content served Russian interests by amplifying pro-Russian narratives and criticism of US support for Ukraine. At least three of the influencers have been contacted by the FBI for voluntary interviews.
Tim Pool, host of The Culture War Podcast, described himself and others as victims if the allegations prove true. Benny Johnson expressed his disturbance at the indictment, and Dave Rubin stated that his association with Tenet Media ended months ago and that he was unaware of any fraudulent activities.
A statement on the leaked DOJ indictment today:
A year ago, a media startup pitched my company to provide content as an independent contractor. Our lawyers negotiated a standard, arms length deal, which was later terminated. We are disturbed by the allegations in today’s…
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 4, 2024
My statement regarding allegations and the DOJ Indictment
Should these allegations prove true, I as well as the other personalities and commentators were deceived and are victims. I cannot speak for anyone else at the company as to what they do or to what they are instructed…
— Tim Pool 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@Timcast) September 4, 2024
The DOJ indictment accuses Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva of overseeing operations and funding while covertly directing Tenet Media’s content to align with Russian interests. The indictment also highlights the elaborate measures taken by the Russian operation, including creating a fictitious Hungarian investor to obscure RT’s involvement and paying influencers substantial sums, up to $100,000 per video.
