YouTube removes right-wing media company's channels after indictment alleges Russian funding

YouTube terminated several right-wing channels linked to accusations made by federal authorities who allege the right-wing media company that owned the channels was being bankrolled by the Russian government to create divisive and politically-motivated content.

Following a Justice Department indictment and careful review, the Google-owned video platform announced the termination of "the Tenet Media channel and four channels operated by its owner Lauren Chen as part of our ongoing efforts to combat coordinated influence operations," a YouTube spokesperson told USA TODAY in an emailed statement Friday.

YouTube's decision comes after the unsealing of an indictment Wednesday accusing Russian nationals Kostiantyn Kalashnikov, 31, also known as Kostya, and Elena Afanasyeva, 27, also known as Lena, of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

“The Justice Department has charged two employees of RT, a Russian state-controlled media outlet, in a $10 million scheme to create and distribute content to U.S. audiences with hidden Russian government messaging,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a Justice Department news release. “The Justice Department will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to exploit our country’s free exchange of ideas in order to covertly further its own propaganda efforts, and our investigation into this matter remains ongoing.”

USA TODAY contacted Tenet Media on Friday but has not received a response. Court records did not show defense attorneys listed for Afanasyeva or Kalashnikov.

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How did the RT employees execute the $10 million scheme?

The 32-page indictment filed in the Southern District of New York says RT, formerly known as Russia Today, is a state-controlled media outlet funded and directed by the Russian government. Since at least 2023, RT and its employees, including Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva, paid nearly $10 million to secretly finance and direct a Tennesse-based online content creation company named in the indictment as "U.S. Company-1."

U.S. Company-1 would publish English-language videos on various social media channels, including TikTok, Instagram, X and YouTube, according to the indictment. Since publicly launching in or about November 2023, U.S. Company-1 posted nearly 2,000 videos that have garnered over 16 million views on YouTube alone, the court document continued.

The majority of the videos posted by U.S. Company-1 include commentary on events and issues in the U.S., such as immigration, inflation and other topics related to domestic and foreign policies, the indictment says. The videos were created to "amplify domestic divisions in the U.S." by publicly stating the goals of the Russian Government, according to the Justice Department.

Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva posed as members of the editing team at U.S. Company-1, and both of them contributed to the posting of hundreds of videos, the Justice Department said. Between October 2023 and in or about August 2024, RT sent wire transfers to U.S. Company-1 totaling around $9.7 million, which accounted for nearly 90% of U.S. Company-1’s bank deposits from all revenue sources combined, according to the indictment.

What is Tenet Media?

Founded in January 2022 by entrepreneur Lauren Chen, Tenet Media is a company that features several right-wing influencers.

"Tenet Media is a network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues," according to the company's website. "Our goal is to support creators who question institutions that believe themselves to be above questioning. In our view, all issues du jour merit rigorous and honest discussion if one wants to come closest to the truth. For those interested in authentic coverage of the topics that matter most, Tenet Media is your home for content : fearless voices live here."

Tenet Media indictment:What to know about the company's 6 influencers

The indictment does not identify U.S. Company-1 as Tenet Media. Still, some right-wing influencers featured on the channel have confirmed that Tenet is the company being referred to in court documents. Matt Christiansen, an influencer featured on the Tenet, even hosted a livestream on his own YouTube channel addressing the controversy titled "A Special Stream on the Tenet Media Controversy & Indictment w Frank from Quite Frankly."

"I can confirm to you Frank that just before live I received an email from the FBI asking for a voluntary interview from me because they believe that I'm the victim of a crime," Christiansen said during the stream. "The FBI is wishing to speak to me about this matter."