By Steve Neavling
With millions of followers online, they’ve been key figures in right-wing political circles since Donald Trump’s presidency. But according to U.S. prosecutors, they were unknowingly working for a company that served as a front for a Russian influence campaign, the Associated Press reports.
An indictment filed Wednesday alleges that a media company associated with six conservative influencers — including notable figures like Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, and Benny Johnson — was covertly funded by Russian state media employees. The company produced English-language videos that “often aligned” with the Kremlin’s goal of deepening U.S. domestic divisions to undermine American opposition to Russian interests, including its war in Ukraine.
This marks the third consecutive presidential election where U.S. authorities have revealed politically sensitive details about Russia’s attempts to meddle in American politics. The indictment also sheds light on how Moscow may be trying to exploit the growing popularity of right-wing podcasters, livestreamers, and other content creators who have thrived on social media since Trump’s presidency.
The U.S. Justice Department does not accuse the influencers of any wrongdoing, noting that some were misled about the origins of the company’s funding. Instead, it charges two employees of RT, a Russian state media outlet, with channeling nearly $10 million to a Tennessee-based content creation company for producing Russia-friendly material.
Following the indictment, Pool and Johnson issued social media statements, echoed by Rubin, asserting that they were victims of the alleged scheme and had done nothing wrong.
“We still do not know what is true as these are only allegations,” Pool said. “Putin is a scumbag.”
