Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, and Benny Johnson have responded to accusations that a content creation company they were linked to was allegedly paid by Russian operatives to produce videos promoting pro-Russian narratives.
Several well-known conservative influencers in the US are claiming they have been targeted by a Russian disinformation campaign. This comes after the Biden administration accused Russia of conducting an ongoing effort to sway the outcome of the upcoming presidential elections in November.
On Wednesday, Pool, Rubin, and Johnson addressed claims that a US-based media company they were connected to had allegedly received almost $10 million from Russian state media personnel to create and publish videos aligning with Moscow’s goals, especially concerning the war in Ukraine.
The Justice Department did not name the company involved but described it as a Tennessee-based media firm with six commentators, which mirrors the profile of Tenet Media—a platform hosting videos by conservative figures like Tim Pool and Benny Johnson.
The Guardian attempted to contact Tenet Media for comment, but the company has not released a statement or responded to requests for clarification from other outlets such as The New York Times and CBS.
In recent months, Tenet Media’s shows have hosted prominent conservative figures, including Lara Trump, Republican candidate Kari Lake, and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland said the influencers’ millions of followers were never informed of the company’s alleged links to Russian state media, describing the indictment as a major move to counter Russia’s attempts to disseminate misinformation ahead of the election.
Pool, who has a large following, expressed shock at the allegations, stating, “If these claims are true, we were all deceived and are victims of this scheme.” Benny Johnson and Dave Rubin echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing they were unaware of the company’s foreign ties and considered themselves victims as well.
The indictment alleges that two RT employees, part of a Russian state media network, covertly financed the Tennessee-based firm to produce videos that supported Moscow’s stance. The indictment also claims that RT employees influenced the production of content, sometimes pushing conspiracy theories, like one video aimed at blaming the US and Ukraine for a Moscow shooting even though the Islamic State had taken responsibility.
RT, which no longer operates in the US after being dropped by major networks following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, dismissed the claims sarcastically when approached for comment. The Biden administration has since escalated its efforts, seizing Kremlin-linked websites and indicting two RT employees as part of its crackdown on Russian disinformation.
Additionally, the Treasury Department sanctioned RT’s editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonyan, along with nine other employees, as part of efforts to target those involved in Russian misinformation campaigns.
