Last Updated on 05/09/2024 by Arun jain
WASHINGTON — Employees of Russia-backed media network RT funded and directed a scheme that funneled millions of dollars through the media company to prominent right-wing critics that appears to match the description of Tenet Media, a leading platform for pro-Trump voices, charging According to an NBC News review of documents, business records and social media profiles.
This charge On Wednesday two RT employees, Konstantin Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, included allegations that the two executed a nearly $10 million scheme to fund an unnamed Tennessee-based company as one of their “covert projects” to influence American politics by posting videos on TikTok. are, Instagram, X and YouTube.
The description of the company matches that of Tenet Media, according to a review of details included in the indictment by NBC News. Prosecutors said the website of “Company-1” describes itself as a “network of heterodox commentators focused on Western political and cultural issues”, the exact same language used by Tenet Media on its website and social media channels. The indictment also states that Company-1 is registered in Tennessee and changed its name on or about May 22, 2023. Tennessee Secretary of State records obtained by NBC News show that Tenet Media filed for its new assumed name on the same date: May 22, 2023.
Tenet is partnered with six commentators: Lauren Southern, Tim Poole, Taylor Hansen, Matt Christianson, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson. The indictment mentions six critics, who have not been named.
Details contained in the indictment match two of Tenet’s personalities: Rubin and Poole. As of Wednesday, Rubin’s “The Rubin Report” YouTube channel had 2.44 million subscribers. The allegation mentions “Commentator-1” as having over 2.4 million YouTube subscribers. A person with more than 1.3 million YouTube subscribers is known as “commentator-2”. The pool now has 1.37 million subscribers. The indictment also mentions three other commentators, including a female pronoun, but lacked any information directly identifying their channels.
It is unclear from the indictment the extent to which each commentator understood where the money was coming from, though it does say that “commentator-1” and “commentator-2” did not know they were being paid by Russian efforts and were duped. had come About the source of funding. It found that $8.7 million was ultimately “directed to the production companies of Commentator-1, Commentator-2 and Commentator-3 alone.” Alleged payments Between October 2023 and August 2024, 90% of the deposits were made in the company’s account.
Tenet Media did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment. A rep for RT said “HAHAHAHA!” responded to a request for comment with a series of text messages including and “We have to earn our Kremlin paycheck somehow.”
Poole said, in part, in A long statement on X: “If these allegations are true, I as well as other personalities and critics were duped and victimized. I cannot speak for anyone else in the company about what they do or what they are instructed to do.
Johnson, Also on XSaid: “A year ago, a media startup approached my company as an independent contractor to provide content. Our attorneys negotiated a standard, arms-length deal, which was later terminated. We are troubled by the allegations in today’s indictment, which make it clear that I and other influencers were victims of this alleged scheme. My lawyers will handle anything anyone says or suggests otherwise.
Henson Said, in part, at X: “These allegations are a complete shock to me and the other hosts of TENET Media. I want to be as clear as possible, I was never directed to report on any topic and had complete freedom and control over my reporting at all times. I will never agree to any arrangement where I am not the only person responsible for the stories I cover and the content I create.”
Rubin Said, in part, at X:” These allegations clearly show that I and other critics were victims of this scheme. I knew absolutely nothing about this fraudulent activity. Period.”
Christianson Said, in part, at X: “At no time has anyone dictated to me what to say or not to say, and I would never agree otherwise. My videos and streams for Tenet are the same as my videos and streams on my personal channels. Every word is from me and me alone.
As part of which the allegations came A comprehensive move by the Departments of Justice, State and Treasury There are Russian government-sponsored efforts to manipulate US public opinion ahead of the November election to target what it says is the Biden administration. That includes charges against two RT employees, who were charged with money laundering conspiracy and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act in an indictment unsealed Wednesday in the Southern District of New York.
The company that would become Tenet Media was registered in Nashville, Tennessee, according to state business records that list the company’s registered agents as Liam Donovan and Lauren Tam. Donovan is a producer, according to his social media pages. Neither was named in the indictment.
Tam, better known as Lauren Chen, is a video producer for The Blaze and a contributor to Turning Points USA. She is also listed On RT’s website As a contributor. Online, Chen has Praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and Criticized US support for Ukraine. Public records Shaw Donovan is married to Lauren Tam, which is also reflected in Chen’s public profile.
Donovan and Tam did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Tenet has emerged in recent years as a home for staunch pro-Trump voices, many of whom have visited Trump and members of the Trump family while supporting conservative causes that are aligned with Russia’s own interests. Johnson Visited Donald Trump Jr. in a video for Tenet Media in February. Several Tenet personalities have espoused anti-Ukrainian views.
Tenet media figures have also denied the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. One of Tenet’s critics, Henson, was inside the US Capitol during the January 6 attack and took video of the death of rioter Ashley Babbitt. He Testified Last year Jan. 6 In a House Republican hearing on defendants’ action. He was not charged in connection with those actions.
Alleges how RT officials – following sanctions imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 – created a “whole empire of covert projects” to shape public opinions of “Western audiences”, in this case pro-Trump using US citizens. Acted as an intermediary for political commentators, communicating with them about strategy, payment negotiations and video distribution.
The indictment includes allegations that some Tenet critics drove a hard bargain. In one exchange, company officials said in an internal communication that “Commentator-1” — presumably Rubin — said “it would have to be close to 5 million a year for him to be interested,” while “Commentator-2″ — a possible pool — said ” It will take 100k per weekly episode to make it worth its time.” This reportedly led one of the company’s founders to say that it would be “very difficult” for the company to “recover costs” based on web traffic or advertising revenue from sponsors, but they decided to proceed anyway.
The indictment also alleges that two defendants and two “founders” told two critics that the company was sponsored by a private investor named “Eduard Grigorian,” a fictitious persona they described as an “accomplished financial professional.” who hold positions at A multinational bank in both Brussels and France. According to the indictment, the founders referred to Grigoryan as their investor along with Commentators-1 and 2, but privately acknowledged to each other in online communications that their actual investors were “Russians.”
The indictment further alleges that RT operatives pressured US commentators to share Russian-funded content with their large audiences and were openly concerned about how little of their “raw video” was being posted by some of the company’s talent.
The allegation adds to growing scrutiny of some internet critics who have increasingly embraced Trump and much of his worldview.
Tim Poole started out as a digital journalist for news outlets including Vice News and Fusion, but has become one of the right’s most popular online influencers in recent years. While condemning the right-wing label, Poole has been vocal Strong support Donald Trump’s re-election and has hosted guests from the conservative fringe including Proud Boys, Covid conspiracy theorists and anti-reactionaries. Has a pool report Earned over $1.3 million from YouTube’s livestream “Super Chat” feature.
Poole, who interviewed Trump this year, has repeatedly criticized US aid to Ukraine, arguing that it amounted to provocation by Russia.
“Ukraine is our enemy,” Poole posted On X last monthAnswering an accusation A Ukrainian man was implicated in the 2022 undersea explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipeline between Russia and Germany.
Rubin, a self-described libertarian, was an early creator of the “Intellectual Dark Web,” a right-wing online counterculture movement. His YouTube show, “The Rubin Report,” has encouraged fringe and extremist voices. His more recent material is decidedly conservative and, As he announced on TwitterHe registered as a Republican in 2022. Rubin is also a vocal critic of Ukraine, arguing that “can’t win“War on Russia. Last year, he called Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., a “sellout” for his ties to Ukraine. Blue and yellow colors.
South is that Far-right activist From Canada and a long time YouTube personality who was once Banned from Airbnb for its association with unspecified groups. She did not respond to a request for comment and has not posted on X about the allegation.
Brett Schaefer, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund who studies disinformation, noted that this is not Russia’s first attempt to covertly fund US media operations.
“There are many, many, many examples going back to the Cold War, but certainly more recently, of Russia trying to covertly finance news organizations or content creators who produce content that is beneficial to Russia,” Schaefer said.
He noted Mafic mediaA network of online video channels that target millennials with content critical of US foreign policy and American media was revealed in 2019 to have been secretly funded by an RT subsidiary, Ruptly. Tenet’s Schaefer said the campaign was nowhere near a success.
“There’s nothing like Tim Poole’s numbers among conservatives,” Schaeffer said. “You’re not dealing with some kind of dominant Twitter account. This is a podcaster that reaches millions and has the connections to bring it up against Trump. So yes, this would be the most influential person that they have somehow been able to support.”
Post Russian money funneled to right-wing creators via pro-Trump media outlet: prosecutors appeared first NBC News.