Democratic Senator Says Russian Propaganda Indictment Shows How ‘Deeply Integrated Russia Is With MAGA Media’

MSNBC’s Morning Joe devoted much of its coverage on Thursday to the Department of Justice indictment of two employees of Russian state media who allegedly funneled money into American, right-wing media outlets as part of a disinformation campaign designed to interfere with the 2024 election.

Co-host Willie Geist spoke to Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and asked him about his thoughts on what he found in the 32-page indictment and what it meant for how the country receives its news:

Geist: What is your reaction to what you read in those more than 30 pages of the Justice Department indictment, laying out chapter and verse how a state media organization in Russia — therefore, the Russian government — funneled money to conservative influencers to spout their propaganda here in the US?

Murphy: This is a stunning indictment, and it really shows potentially how deeply integrated Russia is with the MAGA media environment. This company that is described in Tennessee is a pretty well-known MAGA media company. It has on its payroll many of the top pro-[Donald Trump] voices in this country. And they were knowingly conspiring with Russia, using millions of dollars to put content online and to pay a number of pro-Trump commentators that have been pushing an anti-[Kamala Harris] and pro-Russia narrative for months.

So, unfortunately, this may be the tip of the iceberg. It is possible that there are many other mainstream, conservative websites that are in the pocket of the Russian government. And, I’m glad that the Justice Department is on top of this. I’m glad that the notice is now out to any other MAGA media companies that may be taking Russian money, that this is not going to be permitted and that you’re going to be held accountable if you’re doing business with Vladimir Putin.

Watch the video above via MSNBC.