How Russian operatives covertly hired U.S. influencers to create viral videos
Political commentator Benny Johnson speaks at Turning Point USA 2023 America Fest in December 2023 in Phoenix. Johnson made videos for Tenet Media. A Justice Department accused a company matching Tenet's description as working closely with employees of Russian state broadcaster RT to covertly spread pro-Russian narratives in the U.S. Johnson says he was not aware of Tenet's ties to Russia. Photo by Megan Mendoza / The Arizona Republic / USA Today Network
National Public Radio
Federal officials have accused Russia of using unwitting right-wing American influencers in its quest to spread Kremlin propaganda ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
On Wednesday, the Justice Department charged two employees of RT, the Russian state media broadcaster, in a scheme to secretly fund and direct the production of social media videos that racked up millions of views.
The RT staffers, named in the indictment as Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, have been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act. They’re accused of funneling nearly $10 million to an unnamed Tennessee company that contracted with online influencers with big audiences.
“The company never disclosed to the influencers or to their millions of followers its ties to RT and the Russian government,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Wednesday.
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