In an alleged Russian influence operation to shape public opinion around the 2024 US presidential election, the Justice Department accused Russian state media producers of funneling nearly $10 million to a Tennessee-based company, Tenet Media, to create and amplify content supported by the Kremlin. Influencers like Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, and Benny Johnson were hired to promote pro-Russia narratives, but they claim they did not know the money was from the Kremlin and believed they were victims. The FBI has contacted them for voluntary interviews, but they have not disclosed the payments or responded to requests about returning the money.
The influencers are not required to forfeit the money based on the information revealed in the case. Pool, who received $100,000 per video, stated the amount was market value and had not impacted his lifestyle. While he considered giving the money back, he was consulting with his legal team. The secret payments highlight the vulnerability of the new media ecosystem to infiltration, where creators lack accountability and transparency. While attacking traditional news media, the influencers hired by Tenet demonstrate a lack of integrity similar to mainstream journalistic outlets.
Federal prosecutors detailed how one influencer was offered $2 million annually to create videos for Tenet, but requested more information about the funding source. The Tenet co-founder provided a fake resume for the fictitious funder, Eduard Grigoriann, and agreed to a $400,000 monthly fee and a $100,000 signing bonus for video production. The right-wing personality Lauren Chen and her husband, Liam Donovan, founders of Tenet, knew Grigoriann was fake, but have not been charged in the case. Messages between the couple indicated they were aware the Russians were paying for the project.
Russian state media employees were charged with money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, but Chen and Donovan have not been charged. Rubin claimed to be a victim of the scheme and denied knowledge of the fraudulent activity. The Justice Department’s investigation into the Russian influence operation and Tenet Media founders may be ongoing, with the indictment unsealed to counter the impact of Russian propaganda on the upcoming election. US officials are determined not to repeat the mistakes made in the 2016 election regarding covert Russian influence campaigns.
The case highlights the lack of oversight and vulnerability in the modern media landscape, where independent creators operate with limited safeguards. The involvement of prominent social media personalities in an alleged Russian influence operation raises concerns about integrity and transparency in media platforms. The Justice Department’s investigation into the case sheds light on the potential threats posed by foreign interference in US elections, prompting measures to prevent such influence campaigns in the future. Overall, the allegations against Tenet Media and its influencers underscore the complexity of navigating the digital media environment and the need for increased scrutiny and accountability.
