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Conservative podcasters respond to Russian influence allegations
Three prominent podcasters have insisted they had no knowledge a US network hosting their content allegedly received nearly $10 million from Russian state media employees seeking to influence the 2024 presidential election.
Tim Pool, Benny Johnson and Dave Rubin all strongly denied any wrongdoing and described themselves as “victims” of the purportedly Moscow-backed scheme.
According to a Department of Justice indictment, an unidentified Tennessee-based company received nearly $10 million from two employees of RT, a media network owned by the Russian state.
CNN said it had “independently confirmed” that the company was Tenet Media, a content creation platform that hosts shows for Pool, Johnson and Rubin.
The indictment claimed the scheme was created to “recruit unwitting American influencers” who would promote Kremlin sympathetic narratives ahead of November’s presidential election.
A statement on the leaked DOJ indictment today:
A year ago, a media startup pitched my company to provide content as an independent contractor. Our lawyers negotiated a standard, arms length deal, which was later terminated. We are disturbed by the allegations in today’s…
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 4, 2024
In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, Pool wrote: “Should these allegations prove true, I as well as the other personalities and commentators were deceived and are victims. I cannot speak for anyone else at the company as to what they do or to what they are instructed.”
He added: “That being said, we still do not know what is true as these are only allegations. Putin is a scumbag, Russia sucks donkey b****.”
Johnson wrote: “A year ago, a media startup pitched my company to provide content as an independent contractor. Our lawyers negotiated a standard, arms length deal, which was later terminated. 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.”
Rubin commented: “These allegations clearly show that I and other commentators were the victims of this scheme. I knew absolutely nothing about any of this fraudulent activity. Period.”
Newsweek contacted Tenet Media for comment outside of regular working hours.
This is a breaking story. More to follow.