Conservative U.S. Podcasters Deny Involvement in Russian Influence Operation

[sl8]

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/2024/09/05/conservative-u-s-podcasters-deny-involvement-in-russian-influence-operation/

Conservative U.S. Podcasters Deny Involvement in Russian Influence Operation

TOPICS:ConservativeMedia NewsRussia
POSTED BY: MEDIA BIAS FACT CHECK

Six conservative influencers, including Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, and Benny Johnson, were unknowingly part of a company accused of being a front for a Russian influence operation, according to a U.S. Department of Justice indictment. The indictment alleges that RT employees Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva funneled nearly $10 million to a Tennessee-based company to produce content that aligned with Kremlin interests, such as weakening U.S. opposition to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

The DOJ does not accuse the influencers of wrongdoing but claims they were misled about the funding source. Pool responded, “We still do not know what is true as these are only allegations,” adding, “Putin is a scumbag.” Johnson stated that he had provided content for a media startup under a standard deal, which was later terminated. Rubin also denied any knowledge of the scheme, stating, “I knew absolutely nothing about any of this fraudulent activity.”

Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva face charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). U.S. authorities have previously warned of Russian influence in U.S. elections, with intelligence officials noting Moscow’s preference for Donald Trump in past elections.

While the indictment does not directly name the Tennessee company, it is believed to be Tenet Media, which hosts content from Pool, Johnson, Rubin, and others. Tenet Media has featured conservative guests such as Lara Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Kari Lake. Influencers tied to the company reportedly received lucrative contracts, with one receiving $400,000 monthly, plus bonuses.

[...]

DOJ Press Release:
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-rt-employees-indicted-covertly-funding-and-directing-us-company-published-thousands


Indictment (PDF) :
https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1366266/dl

[Best_man23]

1. As of 10 PM last night, Tenet Media's YT channel was still active

I know there's the 1A in the United States, but I think the case can be made that subversive speech funded by a hostile foreign power is NOT protected under the 1A.

YouTube is quick to require content creators to censor, even in instances where the images are historical in nature (the War Against Humanity series videos by TimeGhost that show images from the Holocaust come to mind).

Frankly, YT should suspend Tenet Media's channel immediately.

[sl8]

2. Torin Media or Tenet Media?

I'm not turning up much in a quick search for Torin Media.

[Best_man23]

3. Its Tenet Media

Correction made, thanks for the catch. More coffee needed here.

[sl8]

4. Thanks. nt

[tanyev]

5. "unknowingly"

It's just coincidence the things we talk about are perfectly in line with what Putin wants. Pure coincidence!

[mitch96]

6. Yup. that's what you do...I't on page 22 of the Russian Influence play book..nt

[Hugin]

7. Soooo... It turns out that all of the Soros malarkey is projection.

Figures.

Every accusation is a confession.

$400,000 / mo + bonuses. Geeezus, I am always in the wrong business.

I believe the DoJ is going too soft on the front men. But, knowing the Kremlin, this isn’t even remotely the only game they have going. There’s a much bigger fish out there and these tools will lead them right to the doorstep when their bills come due.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. $400k/month, or $100k/video, and these guys claim "we didn't realise anything was wrong!"

Anyway! So the Russians are accused of laundering $9.7 million to Tenet, which was 90 percent of all the money the company received during the time in question. (That’s right, 90 PERCENT of the money for this hot new upstart right-wing media company came from Russian shell companies. Oh, did you think they were funded by the grassroots?) Out of that, $8.7 million went to three commentators, video talent Chen and Donovan recruited. For example:

As much as $400,000 per month went to “Commentator 1,” who appears to be dumb gay conservative Dave Rubin. To make like four videos per week!

$100,000 per video for “Commentator 2,” who appears to be Tim Pool.
...
Dave Rubin forcefully tweeted the part of the indictment that proves he was dense enough to fall for the lie that he was being funded by somebody who appears to be a character in Norm MacDonald’s moth joke.
...
Tim Pool apparently had a response that said he’s very upset, but he’s deleted it, per The Fucking News.

https://www.wonkette.com/p/how-did-evil-russians-manage-to-fool

Oh the irony - Tim Pool got his start livestreaming the Occupy Wall St. protests, and now here he is, thinking he's worth $100k per video. And claiming "he's the victim". If we take his word for being clueless, that is ...

[struggle4progress]

9. Hokey pokey!