In a significant move to safeguard the 2024 presidential election, the United States has taken action against alleged Russian attempts to meddle in its democratic processes. The latest development involves the indictment of two Russian state media employees accused of secretly funding a U.S. media company to influence American public opinion.
Indictment of Russian Operatives
On Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department unveiled charges against Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, employees of Russia’s state-controlled RT network. They are accused of funneling $10 million through shell companies and fake identities to a media company in Tennessee. This money was allegedly part of a broader Russian operation designed to sway U.S. voters and deepen political divisions ahead of the 2024 election.
The charges against Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva include conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy to breach the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which mandates that foreign representatives disclose their activities to the U.S. government.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland detailed the nature of the alleged influence campaign at a press conference, revealing that the Russian operation used hidden messaging to target U.S. audiences. The media company involved did not disclose its connections to RT or the Russian government to its influencers or their vast social media followings.
“The company misled its influencers by claiming that the funding came from a private investor who was, in fact, fictitious,” Garland explained. He stressed that such covert attempts to manipulate American discourse would not be tolerated and promised ongoing investigations.
Media Company Tied to Russian Scheme
Though the Tennessee-based media company has not been officially named, it fits the description of Tenet Media, a platform with over 300,000 YouTube subscribers and a presence on other social media platforms. Known for its right-wing content, Tenet Media includes prominent figures like Dave Rubin, Tim Pool, Lauren Southern, and Benny Johnson.
The influencers connected to Tenet Media expressed surprise and dismay upon learning of the allegations. Rubin stated on X (formerly Twitter), “The claims show that I and other commentators were victims of this scheme. I was completely unaware of any fraudulent activity.” Johnson and Pool also voiced their concerns, with Johnson indicating he would take legal action against anyone disputing his innocence and Pool asserting he was deceived if the allegations were true.
Findings from the Justice Department
The Justice Department’s investigation revealed that the media company had published nearly 2,000 videos, amassing over 16 million views. These videos, which covered various U.S. issues, often mirrored Kremlin-approved narratives aimed at amplifying domestic divisions.
Tenet Media’s website describes it as a platform for “fearless voices” addressing Western political and cultural issues from unconventional viewpoints.
Seizure of Russian-Controlled Domains
In addition to the indictments, U.S. officials have seized 32 internet domains used for Russian-backed influence campaigns. FBI Director Christopher Wray stated that these sites were created to trick Americans into consuming Russian propaganda. “The seizure of these websites underscores our commitment to exposing and countering foreign attempts to disrupt our elections,” Wray said.
Ongoing Foreign Interference
The U.S. government has been vigilant about foreign interference, particularly from Russia, which has been accused of meddling in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. Last month, U.S. intelligence agencies also reported Iranian cyberattacks on major presidential campaigns and noted that other foreign actors, including China, are attempting to influence U.S. elections.
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines identified Russia, China, and Iran as the most active foreign entities working to disrupt U.S. elections.
The indictment further reveals that nearly $10 million transferred to the U.S. media company came directly from RT. Of this amount, around $8.7 million was distributed to production companies linked to three unnamed influencers. One commentator reportedly received $400,000 per month for producing four weekly videos. The funds from RT constituted about 90% of the company’s total deposits.
Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva remain at large and face charges of conspiring to violate FARA and committing money laundering. This case continues the trend of U.S. legal actions against Russian interference, following similar indictments in 2018 related to the 2016 election.
