Inside the indictment alleging secret Russian funding of U.S. content company

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) published an indictment on September 4 against two employees of the Russian state media outlet Russia Today (RT), alleging that they covertly funded an American content firm to secretly direct and promote content to create division within the U.S. and further Kremlin interests.

What does the indictment say?

The indictment alleges that RT and two of its employees, who are listed as the defendants, laundered almost $10 million through foreign shell entities in a bid to secretly fund the Tennessee-based content company to create and direct content that would shape Western public opinion.

The indictment does not name the company but refers to it as Company-1. It states that Company-1 describes itself on its website as hosting a "network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues" and lists six commentators as its "talent."

Screenshot of paragraph 11, page 7, of the unsealed indictment. (Source: U.S. Justice Department, page 7 of indictment/Highlight added by Logically Facts)

The description, as reported by outlets including the Associated Press and Reuters, matches Tenet Media, which also lists six influencers on its website, including prominent right-wing social media influencers such as Tim Pool and Benny Johnson. Tenet Media did not immediately respond to a Logically Facts request for comment regarding the indictment.

Screenshot of the homepage of Tenet Media website. (Source: Tenet Media/Highlight added by Logically Facts)

According to the indictment, the content provides commentary on US-centric issues such as immigration and broader foreign policy matters, including the war in Ukraine.

It alleges that Company-1's content is often consistent with the Kremlin's "interest in amplifying U.S. domestic divisions in order to weaken U.S. opposition to Government of Russia interests," including the Russia-Ukraine war.

How did the alleged scheme work?

The indictment stated that one of the defendants used various fake personas to edit, post, and direct the American company in question to post hundreds of clips. 

It later alleges that two prominent U.S. online commentators, with a combined 3.7 million YouTube subscribers, were deceived when they were told during contract negotiations by the defendants and two founders of Company-1, who claimed, per the indictment, that the production of the videos would be sponsored by a fictional persona named "Eduard Grigoriann," not RT.

Screenshot of the alleged fake profile of "Eduard Grigoriann" published in the unsealed indictment. (Source: U.S. Justice Department, page 13 of indictment)

According to the indictment, a profile was provided to one of the commentators about the fictional private investor, where it was claimed that they held "various positions in Brussels and France" at a prominent bank.

The indictment lists examples it says of the defendants requesting the company in question to blame Ukraine and the U.S. for the shooting at a concert near Moscow in March instead of the Islamic State, who claimed responsibility for the attack, as widely reported.

Screenshot of paragraph 37 (c.), page 25 of indictment. (Source: U.S. Justice Department, indictment)

Per the indictment, one of the defendants sent a private message to one of the company's founders, asking that one of the creators record content about the attack, requesting that they blame Ukraine or the U.S. and cast doubt on media reports citing that ISIS was behind it.

The founder responded, subsequently requesting one of the commentators to create content and the next day, according to the indictment, the commentator in question agreed.

Logically Facts addressed a myriad of false claims and fabricated content that surfaced directly after the Moscow attack, including a deepfake of then-Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksii Danilov, where he was made to appear as if he said that Ukraine was involved in the attack.

What has the response been to the indictment?

Pool, one of the six commentators listed on Tenet Media's website, said on X: "Should these allegations prove true, I as well as the other personalities and commentators were deceived and are victims." 

He added: "Never at any point did anyone other than I have full editorial control of the show and the contents of the show are often apolitical."

Johnson, also listed on the Tenet Media website, said on X that a startup contacted his company and asked if he would provide content "as an independent contractor." He said, "Our lawyers negotiated a standard, arms-length deal, which was later terminated."

He added: "We are disturbed by the allegations in today's indictment, which make clear that myself and other influencers were victims in this alleged scheme. My lawyers will handle anyone who states or suggests otherwise."

In response to a request for comment from Logically Facts about the indictment, a spokesperson for RT said: "We eat US DOJ indictments for breakfast. With lots of sour cream, usually."

In the DOJ press release about the indictment, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said: "Covert attempts to sow division and trick Americans into unwittingly consuming foreign propaganda represents attacks on our democracy."