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(Zero Hedge)—The DOJ has accused several conservative influencers of unwittingly working for a Kremlin-funded media outlet.
A federal indictment unsealed on Wednesday alleges that a Tennessee-based media company, later identified as Tenet Media, received nearly $10 million from employees of Russian state-backed media company, Russia Today (RT), as part of “a scheme to create and distribute content to U.S. audiences with hidden Russian government messaging.”
The DOJ claims that RT and two of its employees – Kostiantyn “Kostya” Kalashnikov and Elena “Lena” Afanasyeva – worked to funnel money to Tenet Media as part of a series of “covert projects” aimed at shaping narratives within Western audiences.
The indictment specifically notes that the influencers – including Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Dave Rubin and Lauren Southern – had no idea they were taking Russian money, and were deceived. They were told by Tenet founder Lauren Chen – who allegedly knew the true source of the funds – that the money was from a wealthy private investor named “Eduard Grigoriann.”
The influencers named appear to have been deceived about funding sources by Lauren Chen, founder Tenet. Secondly, Lauren Chen, the alleged Russian agent receiving millions for propaganda (allegedly) has actively been discouraging votes for Trump and dividing the Right. Read the… pic.twitter.com/2JmVk2iml3
— Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) September 4, 2024
At least one of the influencers asked for a profile on Grigoriann before signing a contract – and was given a fabricated one-page profile.
This was apparently sufficient, as two of the commentators (believed to be Tim Pool and Benny Johnson) signed contracts which paid Pool $100,000 per podcast, while Johnson was paid $400,000 per month plus a $100,000 signing bonus for “four weekly videos.”
They let her off. Mostly likely, she entered some off the books deal, to protect a federal asset who Tenet media aggressively promoted, and for access to all her devices. Plus they were able to monitor her under FISA and no doubt did a few hops off that.
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) September 4, 2024
While Pool and Johnson have issued statements (below), it’s been pointed out that Lauren Chen has recently been trying to divide Donald Trump’s base…
Interestingly enough, in recent weeks, Lauren has been telling her followers to boycott Trump. It's entirely unclear if she was doing so at the direction of the Russian government. Nonetheless, worth noting. pic.twitter.com/o9mLFw7gMH
— Jordan Schachtel @ dossier.today (@JordanSchachtel) September 4, 2024
Lauren Chen catching a break? Sounds like the typical leftist double standard in play! Trust the liberals to protect their own when the rest of us would be toast!
— The Scoop (@TheScoopUS) September 4, 2024
This is likely backdrop to Garland's "Russia, Russia, Russia." To notes: 1) No one serious believes Russia backs Trump; 2) What I want to know is whether anything Russia paid for is FALSE. As I said: https://t.co/tRcXbg3Pjs https://t.co/RgZwaAWK5V
— Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland) September 4, 2024
In a Wednesday statement on X, Pool says that should the allegations prove true, “I as well as the other personalities and commentators were deceived and are victims,” and ends by telling haters to “eat my irish ass.”
My statement regarding allegations and the DOJ Indictment
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…
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) September 4, 2024
Johnson says “Our lawyers negotiated a standard, arms length deal, which was later terminated,” adding “We are disturbed by the allegations in today’s indictment, which make clear that myself and other influencers were victims in this alleged scheme.”
A statement on the leaked DOJ indictment today:
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…
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 4, 2024
A statement on the leaked DOJ indictment today:
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…
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 4, 2024
We’re sure the timing of this, two months before the election, was a total coincidence. How long has the DOJ been sitting on this? Why did it drop a day after we learned that a Chinese spy was working for NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, or that Poole was going to sue Kamala Harris for defamation?
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So @Timcast announces he will be suing Kamala and her campaign for defamation and within 24 hrs the DOJ launches an assault calling him a paid Russian asset.
Nothing to see here. Move along.
— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) September 4, 2024
And of course, the NeverTrumpers like Rick Wilson are giddy with joy…
Obviously we should be flushing out any foreign influence operation but let’s not pretend this is a problem exclusive to the right
— Auron MacIntyre (@AuronMacintyre) September 4, 2024
Rep. Matt Gaetz: There Are Five Known Trump Assassination Teams in America
by The Gateway Pundit
President Trump’s life may be in greater danger than anyone, including himself, realizes according to a Florida congressman. As The Gateway Pundit reported, a second attempt was made on Trump’s life on Sunday, just two months after he came within a centimeter of being killed in Butler, Pennsylvania by a…
Is There a Mole Within the Secret Service?
by Townhall
There have been two attempted assassinations of former President Donald Trump, and both times, the suspects have known information only insiders would know about security. How could that be? Since Sunday’s attempted assassination of Trump, making it the second one in two months, several questions have still gone unanswered, such…
Diddy Reportedly Paid Off Home Mortgage Before Being Arrested
by The Dupree Report
New revelations emerged regarding Sean “Diddy” Combs’ opulent Miami estate during his recent bond hearing. In a dramatic turn of events in March, federal agents descended on the hip-hop titan’s luxurious abode on Star Island, uncovering what they allege were preparations for illicit gatherings known as “Freak Offs.” These events…
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Mike DeWine’s History Raises Concerns About Potential Conflict of Interest With Haitian Migrants
by Daily Caller
Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has faced a series of conflicts of interests on key issues in his state, including with the ongoing Haitian migrant crisis affecting Springfield. DeWine recently pledged support to Springfield to assist with the influx in Haitian migrants, according to Spectrum News. Over a period of…
The Coincidences Continue: New Details About Would-be Assassin Ryan Routh’s Wife
by American Greatness
As details continue to emerge about the man accused of attempting to shoot former president Donald Trump, one of the more curious developments involves Ryan Routh’s wife Kathleen Shaffer and her work. During questioning yesterday by Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Homeland Security Investigations Executive Associate Director Chief Katrina W. Berger…
We Can Stop the Democrats From Rigging & Stealing This Election. Now. Today. Here’s How.
by Wayne Allyn Root
I have the solution to what’s coming on November 5th. But President Trump needs to act fast. He must make this high-profile, controversial, headline-grabbing, announcement TODAY! Trump is winning an electoral landslide. We all know that. In every credible and historically accurate poll, Trump is leading in the popular vote…
Congressional Probe Into Democrat Fundraising Platform, ActBlue, Finds Potential “Criminal Activity”
by Darlene McCormick Sanchez, The Epoch Times
(The Epoch Times)—A congressional investigation analyzing more than 200 million political contributions found potential “criminal activity” and referred the information to five state attorneys general for further review. The review involved donation reports from ActBlue, an online Democratic fundraising platform, to the Federal Election Commission, according to Rep. Bryan Steil…
Man Screaming ‘Allahu Akbar’ Stabs One to Death, Gravely Injures Another in the Netherlands
by Human Events
Witnesses said that the suspect began attacking people at random while shouting the Arab phrase meaning “God is great,” commonly used by Muslims. One person is dead and another is gravely wounded after a man screaming ‘Allahu Akbar’ and carrying two knives went on a stabbing spree late Thursday in…
Jeremiah 18:8, “If that Nation Against Which I Have Spoken Turns from Its Evil, I will Relent of the Disaster that I Planned to Bring on It”
by The Gateway Pundit
As the US Congress is debating the Continuing Resolution (CR) that authorizes the national budget, most are concerned about the government shut-down that will occur if the CR is not passed. “Woe!” is being sounded by various Congressional members announcing the calamitous ruin that will fall upon our nation if…
One GOP Lawmaker Says It Doesn’t Feel ‘Safe’ to Work in Politics
by Townhall
Republican Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said in an interview this week that it does not feel safe to work in politics and that she’s been the target of threats. Luna made the remarks in an interview with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation. “The rhetoric that continues to be pushed…when you…
Bill Gates Launches New Netflix Series That Lays Out Mass Suicide Plan for Global Human Depopulation
by Ethan Huff, Natural News
(Natural News)—Scheduled for a Netflix launch on September 18 is a new docu-series from billionaire eugenicist Bill Gates that pushes the notion that “we have to give up hydrocarbons almost entirely,” among other anti-human ideas. Because the climate is currently not to the liking of Gates and his acolytes, major changes…
