The DOJ recently unsealed an indictment accusing Lauren Chen, co-owner of Tenet Media, of being involved in a nearly $10 million Russian propaganda campaign. Chen allegedly recruited conservative influencers to produce content for Russia’s state media operation RT without their knowledge. Despite being referred to as “Founder-1” in the indictment, Chen has not been charged with a crime and has remained silent on the matter.
Chen, who gained popularity as a far-right online commentator under the name Roaming Millennial, was involved in connecting mainstream conservative creators with more extreme voices on YouTube. Her connections made her an ideal recruiter for the covert Russian propaganda campaign, and she allegedly knew that the money for Tenet Media was coming from “the Russians.”
Chen’s controversial views on topics like immigration, LGBTQ rights, feminism, and diversity have drawn criticism over the years. Despite previously affiliating with more mainstream conservative platforms like TheBlaze and CRTV, Chen’s alignment with fringe and extremist voices ultimately led to her termination from TheBlaze and the removal of her content from YouTube.
The fallout from the indictment has affected several conservative influencers associated with Tenet Media, with Turning Point USA removing Chen’s author page and YouTube deleting all of Chen’s channels. This scandal highlights the complex relationships between mainstream and extremist voices in the online conservative movement and raises questions about the influence of foreign propaganda on American influencers.
Source
Photo credit www.nbcwashington.com
