Conservative US Influencers Say They Were Misled by Alleged Russian Plot

Conservative US commentators are claiming they were deceived by Russian media, according to new allegations. This follows an indictment accusing Russia of interfering in the 2024 US election. The indictment alleges that Russia’s state broadcaster RT, also known as Russia Today, paid a Tennessee company $10 million to produce and spread content with hidden Russian government messages.

The company involved, Tenet Media, was founded in 2022 by conservative Canadian YouTuber Lauren Chen and her husband Liam Donovan. Though not directly named in the indictment, Tenet Media has faced scrutiny. It employs several well-known right-wing US influencers like Tim Pool, David Rubin, and Benny Johnson. These influencers have publicly stated that if the allegations are true, they were misled and are victims of the plot.

The indictment suggests that RT employees secretly edited and directed videos promoting right-wing views on topics like immigration and gender. US officials have described these influencers as “unwitting” participants, saying they were paid large sums to create content without knowing its true source.

The indictment reveals that Tenet Media posted around 2,000 videos, amassing over 16 million views. It also accuses RT staff of secretly overseeing these videos to further Russia’s interests and weaken US opposition to Russian policies.

The case has led to various reactions from the influencers involved. Tim Pool, who has a large following on social media, said he and others were deceived if the allegations are true. Benny Johnson expressed his concern, and David Rubin stated he had no knowledge of any fraudulent activities. The indictment also reveals some Tenet Media employees had doubts about their arrangements, highlighting the complexity and secrecy surrounding the alleged plot.

According to the indictment, the influencers were negotiated with by the Russians, who even created a fake Hungarian investor to seal the deals. This case shows how covert operations can impact media and political narratives, raising questions about transparency and influence in the media landscape.

For more details, you can refer to the BBC’s coverage of the case.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crrlv7jdnq8o

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