WASHINGTON — Employees of the Russia-backed media network RT funded and directed a scheme that sent millions of dollars to prominent right-wing commentators through a media company that appears to match the description of Tenet Media, a leading platform for pro-Trump voices, according to an NBC News review of charging documents, business records and social media profiles.
The indictment on Wednesday of two RT employees, Konstantin Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, includes allegations that the duo implemented a nearly $10 million plan to fund an unnamed Tennessee-based company as one of their “covert projects” to influence American politics by posting videos to TikTok, Instagram, X and YouTube.
The company’s description matches that of Tenet Media, according to a review by NBC News of details included in the indictment. Prosecutors said that the website of “Company-1” describes itself as a “network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues,” the exact same language used by Tenet Media on its website and social media channels. The indictment also states that Company-1 is registered in Tennessee and changed its name on or about May 22, 2023. Tennessee Secretary of State records found by NBC News show that Tenet Media entered its new assumed name on the same date: May 22, 2023.
Tenet has partnered with six commentators: Lauren Southern, Tim Pool, Tayler Hansen, Matt Christiansen, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson. The indictment refers to six commentators, who are not named.
Details included in the indictment match those of two of Tenet’s personalities: Rubin and Pool. As of Wednesday, Rubin’s “The Rubin Report” YouTube channel had 2.44 million subscribers. The indictment refers to “Commentator-1” as having over 2.4 million YouTube subscribers. A person with over 1.3 million YouTube subscribers is referred to as “Commentator-2.” Pool now has 1.37 million subscribers. The indictment also refers to three other commentators, including one with female pronouns, but lacked any information that could directly identify their channels.
It is unclear from the indictment the extent to which each of the commentators realized where the money was coming from, though it stated that “Commentator-1” and “Commentator-2” were unaware they were being paid by Russian efforts and had been deceived about the source of the funding. It found that $8.7 million was eventually sent “to the production companies of Commentator-1 , Commentator-2, and Commentator-3 alone.” The payments allegedly made up 90% of the deposits made to the company’s account between October 2023 and August 2024.
Tenet Media did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News. A representative for RT responded to a request to comment with a series of text messages including “Hahahaha!” and “We gotta earn our Kremlin paycheck somehow.”
Pool said, in part, in a lengthy statement on X: “Should these allegations prove true, I as well as the other personalities and commentators were deceived and are victims. I cannot speak for anyone else at the company as to what they do or to what they are instructed.”
Johnson, also on X, said: “A year ago, a media startup pitched my company to provide content as an independent contractor. 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.”
Hansen said, in part, on X: “These allegations come as a complete shock to me and the other hosts at TENET Media. I want to be as clear as possible, I was never directed to report on any topic and had complete freedom and control over my reporting at all times. I would never agree to any arrangement where I am not the sole person in charge of the stories I cover and content I create.”
Rubin said, in part, on X:” These allegations clearly show that I and other commentators were the victims of this scheme. I knew absolutely nothing about any of this fraudulent activity. Period.”
Christiansen said, in part, on X: “At no point has anyone ever directed me what to say or not to say, and I would never agree to anything otherwise. My videos and streams for Tenet are exactly the same as my videos and streams on my personal channels. Every word is from me and me alone.”
The allegations came as part of a wide-ranging move by the Departments of Justice, State and Treasury to target what the Biden administration says are Russian government-sponsored attempts to manipulate U.S. public opinion ahead of the November election. That included charges against the two RT employees, who were accused of conspiring to commit money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act in an indictment unsealed Wednesday in the Southern District of New York.
The company that would become Tenet Media was registered in Nashville, Tennessee, according to state business records that list the company’s registered agents as Liam Donovan and Lauren Tam. Donovan is a producer, according to his social media pages. Neither of them are named in the indictment.
Tam is better known as Lauren Chen, a video creator for The Blaze and a contributor to Turning Points USA. She is also listed on RT’s website as a contributor. Online, Chen has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticized U.S. support for Ukraine. Public records show Donovan is married to Lauren Tam, which is also reflected in the public profiles of Chen.
Donovan and Tam did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Tenet has emerged in recent years as a home for staunch pro-Trump voices, many of whom have interviewed Trump and Trump family members while also supporting conservative causes that mesh with Russia’s own interests. Johnson interviewed Donald Trump Jr. in a video for Tenet Media in February. Many of Tenet’s personalities have espoused anti-Ukraine views.
Tenet Media personalities have also downplayed the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. One of Tenet’s commentators, Hansen, was inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack and took video of the death of rioter Ashli Babbitt. He testified last year in a House Republican hearing on the prosecution of Jan. 6 defendants. He was not charged in relation to those actions.
