A recent Department of Justice indictment has revealed that Tenet Media, a conservative YouTube network launched in 2023, was allegedly funded by the Russian government as part of a foreign influence operation. The indictment alleges that Tenet Media, founded by conservative influencer Lauren Chen and her husband, Liam Donovan, received roughly $10 million in Russian money.

I’ve always said that being anti-porn is big money — anti-porn propaganda isn’t about “saving the children”, it’s about making money.

The indictment outlines how Russian government-funded RT (formerly Russia Today) employees Elena Afanasyeva and Darya Dubrovina operated Tenet Media “behind the scenes,” misleading prominent right-wing influencers about the source of the network’s funding.

The network’s talent roster included Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Dave Rubin, and Matt Christiansen, all of whom claim they were unaware of the Russian funding. The indictment alleges that Chen and Donovan were aware of the Russian source of funding and even acknowledged it in private messages.

The indictment also details how the Russian backers initially invented a fictitious Belgian investor named “Eduard Grigoriann” to conceal the true source of funding. When Rubin and Pool expressed doubts about the Belgian investor, a second alias was created to pressure Tenet’s influencers to promote the network.

Despite attracting some prominent figures on the right, including Vivek Ramaswamy and Lara Trump, Tenet Media failed to gain significant traction. The Russian backers expressed frustration with the network’s lack of success, blaming the influencers for prioritizing their personal brands over promoting Tenet.

The revelation of Tenet Media’s connection to Russia has caused a significant stir within the conservative media world. Some of the influencers involved have denied knowledge of the Russian funding, while others are facing criticism for their unwitting participation in a foreign propaganda operation.

The indictment further highlights the growing concern about the role of foreign actors in influencing online discourse and the need for increased scrutiny of funding sources for online platforms. It also raises questions about the potential for disinformation campaigns to exploit existing political divisions and undermine public trust.

The Department of Justice has charged the two RT employees with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), alleging that they failed to disclose their work for a foreign government. The case is currently ongoing.

The indictment’s impact on Tenet Media has been swift and decisive. YouTube has terminated Tenet Media’s channel and four other channels linked to Chen. The Blaze Media has also terminated Chen’s contract as an independent contractor.