What happens when you don’t do any research? You attack on air personalities. Tenet Media was a U.S.-based media company founded in January 2022 by political commentator Lauren Chen and her husband Liam Donovan.
Tenet Media shut down on September 5, 2024, after two Russian Nationals were charged. None of the on-air personalities knew where the money was coming from and none were charged. See below.
What the DOJ alleged
The Justice Department accused Russian state‑media employees of:
secretly funding Tenet Media
directing content strategy
using the company as a covert influence operation
But the indictment did not accuse the U.S. influencers of knowingly participating. Who was not charged?
No American influencers or Tenet Media on‑air personalities were charged.
The DOJ framed them as:
“Unwitting” participants
People who did not know the money came from Russian state media.
Why weren’t the Americans charged?
Based on the sources:
The indictment alleges the Russians concealed the funding.
The influencers were paid as if it were a normal media contract.
DOJ did not accuse them of knowingly participating in a foreign influence operation.
Bottom line
Yes — charges were filed.
Only the Russian operatives were indicted.
No Tenet Media hosts or U.S. influencers were charged.
