Right-Wing Influencer Network Tenet Media Accused of Spreading Russian Disinformation
A Tennessee-based media network that produces shows for prominent right-wingers influencer including Benny Johnson and Tim Pool were largely funded by the Russian state-backed news network RT, according to a federal indictment against two RT employees announced by the US Department of Justice on Wednesday. The Justice Department claims the US company—which WIRED, among other news outlets, identified as Tenet Media but did not name in the indictment—posted hundreds of videos on social media promoting Kremlin-approved views.
With the tagline “Fearless Voices Live Here,” the Tenet Media network is made up of online creators known for their alt-right politics, including Johnson, Pool, Dave Rubin, and Lauren Southern. In addition to the network’s individual creators’ combined followings in the millions, Tenet Media itself boasts more than 315,000 YouTube followers and thousands more across Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.
Johnson, Pool, Rubin and Southern did not immediately respond to requests for comment; none have been charged with wrongdoing. “We are deeply concerned about the allegations in today’s indictment,” Johnson said. wrote on X, referring to him and his attorney, “this makes it clear that I and other influencers are victims in this alleged conspiracy.” Pool also released a declare on X, saying, “If these allegations are true, I, like other celebrities and commentators, have been deceived and victimized.” Rubin reshared Pool’s post.
Prosecutors said in the indictment that Tenet and its founders — who are also not named in the indictment, but are listed in company records as right-wing influencer Lauren Chen and her husband, Liam Donovan — actively concealed the company’s ties to Russia from individual creators.
Tenet is said to have received around $9.7 million from RT, according to DOJOf that, $8.7 million went to the production companies of three unnamed commentators, the indictment alleges. One, referred to as “Commentator-1”—a description that appears to be Johnson or Rubin—was allegedly contracted for $400,000 a month for four weekly videos. The nearly $10 million Tenet Media allegedly received from RT “represents nearly 90 percent” of the money deposited into the company’s accounts, the Justice Department claims.
The Justice Department only identifies Tenet Media as “US Company-1,” but notes in the indictment that the company describes itself as “a network of heretical commentators focused on Western political and cultural issues.” That language is identical to the description above. Tenet Media Website.
Tenet and Chen did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Russian RT employees indicted by the United States, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, are accused of working with Tenet Media to produce hundreds of videos in support of Russian causes. They are charged with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and conspiracy to launder money for their alleged work with Tenet Media and related activities.
Acting as outside video editors, the pair are said to have been closely involved in Tenet Media’s operations. For example, Kalashnikov “monitored [Tenet Media’s] The indictment alleges that “internal communications and edited content” were published by the company. Afanasyeva, who allegedly used the fake personas “Helena Shudra” and “Victoria Pesti” while working with Tenet Media, allegedly “edited, posted, and directed the posting” of Tenet Media and “provided day-to-day direction” to the company’s employees. Afanasyeva’s work with Tenet Media allegedly included directing the company to post pro-Russian views, such as promoting a conspiracy theory that Ukraine and the United States were responsible for a March terrorist attack at a Moscow music venue.
