DOJ Accuses Right-Wing Influencers of Russian Funding Links

Six right-wing social media influencers connected to Tenet Media, a company alleged by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to have been funded by Russian operatives aiming to influence the 2024 U.S. election, are facing scrutiny. These influencers have notable histories involving plagiarism, the promotion of conspiracy theories, minimizing the significance of the January 6 Capitol attack, and offering platforms to extremist figures. The allegations suggest that Tenet Media was used as a conduit for Russian efforts to sway public opinion by leveraging influential media personalities.

Benny Johnson, a prominent figure with a substantial following exceeding 6.6 million across YouTube, X, and Instagram, has been recognized as a major player in viral political news since 2015. Despite his prominence, Johnson has publicly claimed to be a “victim” of any Russian-led schemes intended to impact the election. His defense highlights his position as a high-profile commentator in conservative circles, yet his association with Tenet Media and the potential implications of the funding source raise significant concerns.

Tim Pool, who operates the conservative Tim Pool Daily Show, Timcast IRL, and the Culture War podcast, all of which were licensed by Tenet Media, has also responded to the allegations. With over 1.3 million YouTube followers, Pool has defended his editorial independence, asserting he maintained “full editorial control” over his content. His response included a strong condemnation of Vladimir Putin, underscoring his stance against Russian influence. Pool’s reaction reflects his attempt to distance himself from the allegations while emphasizing his commitment to editorial autonomy.

David Rubin, the host of “The Rubin Report,” a YouTube channel boasting 2.45 million subscribers, has been identified as “Commentator-1” in the DOJ indictment. According to the indictment, Rubin entered into a contract with Tenet Media to produce four videos per week for $400,000 monthly, with an additional $100,000 signing bonus. Rubin was reportedly unaware that the payments came from Russian sources. His career trajectory—from libertarian to conservative commentator—has been marked by controversy, including accusations of providing a platform to political extremists like white nationalist Stefan Molyneux. Rubin’s statement, denying knowledge of the alleged Russian funding, is a significant part of his defense.

Matt Christiansen, a political commentator and YouTube gamer with 235,000 followers, has refuted claims that he was “unwittingly duped” into producing biased content. Christiansen, who creates his own content, argues that his perspective has remained consistent since joining Tenet Media. His commentary often critiques Democratic policies and addresses contentious topics such as police violence and assault weapon bans. His defense emphasizes his role as a content creator with editorial control, distancing himself from accusations of bias induced by external funding.

Tayler Hansen, another personality associated with Tenet Media, has defended his reporting practices, claiming he had “complete freedom and control” over his content. Hansen’s commentary has focused on issues like the January 6 riots and controversial views on drag shows, which he has previously described as a means of “sexual grooming.” Hansen has criticized the DOJ’s investigation as a “smear job” against Tenet Media, portraying himself as a defender of uncensored, right-wing media.

Lauren Southern, a Canadian conservative commentator with over 1.4 million followers, has faced significant controversy for her promotion of white nationalist ideals. Southern’s career includes work with Rebel Media and controversial actions such as obstructing a refugee search-and-rescue operation in 2017 and joining a speaking tour with Stefan Molyneux in 2018. Her past actions and statements have led to bans from monetizing platforms like Patreon, and she has been labeled by The Atlantic as “the alt-right’s most influential woman” in 2020. Southern’s silence on the DOJ accusations leaves her position unclear, but her association with Tenet Media adds to the overall scrutiny.

The DOJ’s indictment details that $8.7 million was paid to the production companies associated with Commentator-1, Commentator-2, and Commentator-3, believed to be Rubin, Pool, and an unnamed content creator. The indictment accuses the Kremlin of using Tenet Media to recruit right-wing influencers for pro-Russian propaganda. While the indictment does not explicitly name Tenet Media or the influencers, the description closely matches Tenet Media, which lists several prominent right-wing figures on its roster. The indictment alleges that Russian state media spent $10 million supporting content creators who propagated views aligning with Russian interests, aimed at amplifying U.S. domestic divisions. Importantly, the indictment does not allege that the influencers were aware of the Russian origins of the funding.

Liam Donovan and Lauren Tam, also known as Lauren Chen, are identified as the registered business agents for Tenet Media. Chen, a video creator for The Blaze, has previously praised Putin and contributed to Russia-backed media network RT. Her involvement with Tenet Media and her past statements highlight a complex network of connections potentially influencing the political media landscape.