A sprawling federal investigation into an alleged Russian foreign influence operation in the United States has resulted in a lengthy indictment that names several prominent conservatives and right-leaning influencers as unwitting participants in the scheme. Released yesterday by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the 32-page indictment alleges two Russian nationals spearheaded an influence operation targeting an American audience to subtly push pro-Russia propaganda.
The DOJ claims that Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva—both employees of Russia Today—are at the center of a money laundering operation that spent nearly $10 million using a network of shell companies in the U.S. and Europe to influence and sow division among Americans. Russia Today—recently rebranded as RT—is a Russian state-controlled media outlet forced to register as a foreign agent in the United States in 2017 under former President Donald J. Trump.
RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA.
According to the indictment, the Russian operatives approached a Tennesee-based media company—widely understood to be Tenet Media—offering to finance a social media operation primarily centered on YouTube videos addressing hot-button American political issues. However, as part of the financial agreement, Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva would have a high degree of control over the content published. The two would use false identities in their interactions with content creators, directing them to unwittingly push Russian interests among more standard social media political commentary.
Tenet Media is owned by Canadian national and right-wing social media personality Lauren Chen and her husband, Liam Donovan. The DOJ indictment does not mention either by name, nor does it level criminal charges—as of now—against the couple. However, the charging document does allege that both Chen and Donovan were aware that they were working with and taking money from Russian operatives and appear to be complicit in pushing Russian propaganda.
UNWITTING PARTICIPANTS.
The indictment notes that while Tenet Media’s leadership appeared willing to participate in the Russian influence scheme, the company’s clients were unaware of the foreign connections. Tenet Media had relationships with a roster of conservative and right-leaning influencers, including Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, and Dave Rubin.
“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,” Johnson wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) responding to the indictment. He adds: “We are disturbed by the allegations in today’s indictment, which make clear that myself and other influencers were victims in this alleged scheme.”
Also, responding to the indictment, Dave Rubin wrote on X: “These allegations clearly show that I and other commentators were the victims of this scheme. I knew absolutely nothing about any of this fraudulent activity. Period.”
Rubin stresses that the DOJ has never contacted him regarding its investigation and subsequent indictment.
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