U.S. prosecutors allege that six conservative influencers with millions of followers unknowingly worked for a company that was a front for a Russian influence operation.
The indictment, filed on September 4, claims Russian state media employees secretly funded a media company linked to these influencers to produce English-language videos that often aligned with Kremlin interests.
The U.S. Justice Department doesn’t accuse the influencers of wrongdoing, stating some were given false information about the funding source.
The charges focus on two employees of Russia Today (RT), a Russian state media company, who allegedly funneled nearly $10 million to a Tennessee-based content creation company for Russia-friendly content.
The indictment details match Tenet Media, an online media company hosting “a network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues.”
Tenet’s website lists six influencers: Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Dave Rubin, Lauren Southern, Tayler Hansen, and Matt Christiansen. Collectively, these influencers have over 7 million subscribers on YouTube and 7 million followers on X.
The content produced by Tenet Media has garnered significant attention, with nearly 2,000 videos posted receiving more than 16 million views on YouTube alone.
Recent shows have featured high-profile conservative guests, including Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
Financial details in the indictment reveal substantial compensation for some influencers. One unidentified individual’s contract included a $400,000 monthly fee, a $100,000 signing bonus, and additional performance bonuses.
According to the Associated Press, this case marks the third consecutive presidential election in which U.S. authorities have unveiled details about alleged Russian interference in American politics.
It also highlights how Moscow may be attempting to leverage the popularity of right-wing podcasters, live streamers, and content creators who have gained prominence since Donald Trump’s presidency.
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U.S. prosecutors allege that six conservative influencers with millions of followers unknowingly worked for a company that was a front for a Russian influence operation.
The indictment, filed on September 4, claims Russian state media employees secretly funded a media company linked to these influencers to produce English-language videos that often aligned with Kremlin interests.
The U.S. Justice Department doesn’t accuse the influencers of wrongdoing, stating some were given false information about the funding source.
The charges focus on two employees of Russia Today (RT), a Russian state media company, who allegedly funneled nearly $10 million to a Tennessee-based content creation company for Russia-friendly content.
The indictment details match Tenet Media, an online media company hosting “a network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues.”
Tenet’s website lists six influencers: Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Dave Rubin, Lauren Southern, Tayler Hansen, and Matt Christiansen. Collectively, these influencers have over 7 million subscribers on YouTube and 7 million followers on X.
The content produced by Tenet Media has garnered significant attention, with nearly 2,000 videos posted receiving more than 16 million views on YouTube alone.
Recent shows have featured high-profile conservative guests, including Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
Financial details in the indictment reveal substantial compensation for some influencers. One unidentified individual’s contract included a $400,000 monthly fee, a $100,000 signing bonus, and additional performance bonuses.
According to the Associated Press, this case marks the third consecutive presidential election in which U.S. authorities have unveiled details about alleged Russian interference in American politics.
It also highlights how Moscow may be attempting to leverage the popularity of right-wing podcasters, live streamers, and content creators who have gained prominence since Donald Trump’s presidency.