Right-Wing Influencer Network Tenet Media Allegedly Spread Russian Disinformation

A Tennessee-based media web that produces shows for high-profile right-wing influencers including Benny Johnson and Tim Pool was mostly funded by Russian state-backed quality web RT, according to a federal indictment against 2 RT employees the United States Department of Justice unsealed connected Wednesday. The DOJ claims the US company—which WIRED, on with different quality outlets, was capable to place arsenic Tenet Media but goes unnamed successful the indictment—posted hundreds of videos connected societal media that pushed Kremlin-approved talking points.

With the tagline “Fearless voices unrecorded here,” Tenet Media’s web includes online creators known for their right-wing politics, including Johnson, Pool, Dave Rubin, and Lauren Southern. In summation to the followings of the network’s idiosyncratic creators, which collectively fig successful the millions, Tenet Media itself boasts much than 315,000 followers connected YouTube, and thousands much crossed Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Johnson, Pool, Rubin, and Southern did not instantly respond to requests for comment; nary are accused of wrongdoing. “We are disturbed by the allegations successful today’s indictment,” Johnson wrote connected X, referring to him and his lawyers, “which marque wide that myself and different influencers were victims successful this alleged scheme.” Pool besides released a statement connected X, saying successful portion that “Should these allegations beryllium true, I arsenic good arsenic the different personalities and commentators were deceived and are victims.” Rubin retweeted Pool’s post.

Prosecutors accidental successful the indictment that Tenet and its founders—who besides spell unnamed successful the indictment, but are right-wing influencer Lauren Chen and her husband, Liam Donovan, according to firm records—actively concealed the company’s links to Russia from the idiosyncratic creators.

Tenet allegedly received immoderate $9.7 cardinal from RT, according to the DOJ. Of that, $8.7 cardinal went to the accumulation companies of 3 unnamed commentators, the indictment claims. One, referred to arsenic “Commentator-1”— the statement appears to beryllium of either Johnson oregon Rubin—was allegedly contracted for $400,000 per period for 4 play videos. The astir $10 cardinal Tenet Media allegedly received from RT “represents astir 90%” of funds deposited successful the company’s accounts, the DOJ claims.

The Justice Department identifies Tenet Media lone arsenic “US Company-1,” but notes successful the indictment that the institution describes itself arsenic a “network of heterodox commentators that absorption connected Western governmental and taste issues.” That connection is identical to the statement connected Tenet Media’s website.

Tenet and Chen did not instantly respond to requests for comment.

The Russian RT employees indicted by the US, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, allegedly worked with Tenet Media to nutrient hundreds of videos that enactment Russia’s aims. They are charged with conspiracy to interruption the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and conspiracy to perpetrate wealth laundering for their alleged enactment with Tenet Media and associated activities.

Posing arsenic extracurricular video editors, the brace were allegedly intimately progressive successful Tenet Media’s operations. Kalashnikov, for example, “monitored [Tenet Media’s] interior communications and edited content” published by the company, the indictment claims. Afanasyeva, who allegedly utilized the fake personas “Helena Shudra” and “Victoria Pesti” portion moving with Tenet Media, is said to person “edited, posted, and directed the posting” by Tenet Media and “provided day-to-day direction” to the company’s staff. Afanasyeva’s enactment with Tenet Media allegedly included instructing the institution to station pro-Russian viewpoints, specified arsenic pushing a conspiracy mentation that Ukraine and the US were liable for a March violent onslaught astatine a euphony venue successful Moscow.