The Department of Justice has indicted two employees of RT, a Russian state-backed media company, accusing them of funding and directing content at a U.S. conservative media outlet without complying with the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
The indictment reveals that Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva funneled nearly $10 million into the media company to push Kremlin-supported narratives while failing to register as foreign agents.
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The indictment doesn’t name the U.S. outlet, but describes it as a Tennessee-based network with six commentators, matching the description of TENET Media, which features conservative influencers such as Dave Rubin, Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, and Lauren Southern.
CNN confirmed that TENET is the company mentioned. Johnson and Pool responded on social media, asserting that they were unaware of any foreign involvement and considering themselves victims of deception.
In a post on X on Wednesday, which was retweeted by Rubin, Johnson said he was an unwitting victim of the alleged scheme.
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“A year ago, a media startup pitched my company to provide content as an independent contractor,” Johnson wrote. “Our lawyers negotiated a standard, arms-length deal, which was later terminated. We are disturbed by the allegations in today’s indictment, which make clear that myself and other influencers were victims in this alleged scheme. My lawyers will handle anyone who states or suggests otherwise.”
Tim Pool also addressed the situation in a post on X, identifying TENET as the company he had a licensing agreement with. “Should these allegations prove true, I as well as the other personalities and commentators were deceived and are victims,” Pool wrote. “I cannot speak for anyone else at the company as to what they do or to what they are instructed.” He added, “Putin is a scumbag, Russia sucks donkey balls.”
The DOJ alleges that the Russian operatives posed as representatives of a fictional Belgian financier named “Eduard Grigoriann” and manipulated TENET’s founders, who are referred to as “Founder-1” and “Founder-2” in the indictment, to promote pro-Russian content.
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Though TENET’s founders, Liam Donovan and Lauren Chen, have not been charged, the DOJ press release notes that the media company did not disclose its foreign backing or register under FARA, as required.
Despite attempts to hide their activities, Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva left digital traces, such as repeatedly misspelling names in emails. Out of the $10 million provided, $8.7 million reportedly went to pay the influencers involved. Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva are currently residing in Russia and are unlikely to face trial in the U.S.
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