RT employees face charges in the US for allegedly being involved in covert funding of right-wing media outlets, raising concerns over foreign influence in domestic politics

To counteract Russian meddling in the 2024 presidential election, numerous measures have been taken by the United States. These involve charging two state media workers for clandestinely providing funds to an American media firm with intentions of creating political polarization.

The US Justice Department unveiled an indictment on Wednesday, claiming that two workers from RT in Russia used fraudulent identities and shell corporations to disburse $10 million to a Tennessee-based news organization as part of a Kremlin-directed scheme aimed at exerting influence.

The accusations against Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva involve plotting to launder money as well as scheming to break the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

“Hidden Russian government messaging” had been aimed at US audiences, according to Merrick B Garland, the Attorney General of the United States.

According to Garland, the company concealed its connection with RT and the Russian government from both influencers and their vast audiences. Rather than acknowledge this affiliation, defendants insisted that a private investor was sponsoring them – an imaginary figure.

According to Garland, investigations are underway and any efforts by an authoritarian government to exploit our country’s freedom of expression for its own propaganda purposes will not be tolerated.

Although the Tennessee-based outlet was not specifically named by US officials, according to the indictment, it characterizes itself as a “group of non-conformist commentators that concentrate on political and cultural issues pertaining to Western society”.

Tenet Media, consisting of Dave Rubin, Tim Pool, Lauren Southern and Benny Johnson – all known for their right-wing views – appropriately fits the given description.

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Requests for comment were not promptly responded to by Tenet Media and RT.

Rubin claimed that the allegations provide clear evidence of himself and other commentators being targeted by this scheme.

In a post on X, he claimed that he had no knowledge whatsoever regarding any of the fraudulent activities.

“Disturbed by the allegations, Johnson expressed that he and other influencers were victims of the alleged scheme.”

On X, he declared that his attorneys would manage anyone who claims or hints otherwise.

“If the allegations were true,” Pool stated, “then I would have been deceived.”

On X, he stated that the show was strictly non-political and only I had complete authority over its editorial content throughout.

US officials have announced that they’ve taken control of 32 internet domains, which were being used for “malign influence campaigns” led by Russia. The main aim behind these campaigns was to intervene in the US election and undermine global support for Ukraine.

According to a statement made by FBI director Christopher Wray, websites were created by companies under the guidance of the Russian government with the intention of deceiving Americans into inadvertently being exposed to Russian propaganda.

The FBI’s seizure of these websites serves as a clear indication to the world that they are nothing but Russian efforts aimed at disrupting our elections and manipulating our society.

Foreign governments, including Moscow, have been accused by US officials of attempting to interfere in the United States’ electoral processes on multiple occasions. These accusations pertain specifically to the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.

Iran was accused by US intelligence agencies of conducting cyber attacks on both presidential campaigns last month, affecting Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump.

In May, it was declared by Avril Haines, the Director of National Intelligence that Russia, China and Iran were identified as the primary “foreign actors” making attempts to interfere in elections on a large scale.

In 2018, American prosecutors filed charges against thirteen Russian individuals and organizations for meddling in the presidential election of 2016 with an intention of supporting the then-contender, Trump.