Tenet Media abruptly closed after an indictment from the Department of Justice (DOJ) accused it of being covertly funded by Russian state media employees. Tayler Hansen, a field reporter for the media company, announced the company’s closure on Twitter, just one day after the indictment was unsealed.
The indictment alleges that employees of RT, a Russian state-controlled broadcaster, funneled $10 million to a Tennessee firm, which U.S. media identified as Tenet Media. This money was allegedly used to pay U.S. influencers to create content that aligned with Russian interests, including promoting narratives on immigration, gender, and the economy. The DOJ claims these efforts were part of a broader attempt by Russia to interfere in the 2024 U.S. election by amplifying domestic political divisions.
Several prominent contributors to Tenet, including far-right commentators Tim Pool and Lauren Southern, denied knowing about the Russian connection and described themselves as victims of the scheme. Pool stated that he had been contacted by the FBI and would cooperate with the investigation. Meanwhile, Lauren Chen, co-founder of Tenet Media, and her husband Liam Donovan have not commented publicly on the allegations.
The DOJ has charged two RT employees, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, with conspiracy to commit money laundering and violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. U.S. intelligence officials say that Russia’s disinformation campaigns aim to weaken U.S. opposition to its ongoing war in Ukraine and deepen political polarization ahead of the upcoming election.
The fallout from the indictment has been swift, with YouTube and other platforms deleting Tenet Media’s channels.
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