Project 2025 ex-chief appeared on media channel DOJ called 'covert project' linked to Russia

The then-leader of the conservative policy blueprint known as Project 2025 appeared on a podcast in July produced by a company the Department of Justice accused Wednesday of being run by Russian agents.

Paul Dans appeared on an episode with podcaster Tim Pool on Tenet Media called, "The Media is Lying About Project 2025." Dans, who was director of Project 2025 at the time, alleged "a very sophisticated group" was working to undermine the effort to set a policy agenda for the next Trump administration.

Project 2025 is a sweeping policy blueprint that the Heritage Foundation spearheaded that envisions increased presidential power. At least 31 of 38 authors are tied to former President Donald Trump. Democrats, including their House campaign arm and Vice President Kamala Harris, have criticized its policies and sought to tie it to Trump.

The Department of Justice did not name Tenet Media in its indictment released Wednesday, but the company's business filings with the Tennessee secretary of state, and its public messages, align with what is described in the indictment.

The indictment says that RT, a media entity formerly known as "Russia Today," and its employees laundered nearly $10 million "to covertly fund and direct" what it only calls "U.S. Company-1."

The indictment says the company creates English-language content for social media sites such as TikTok, Instagram, X and YouTube and describes itself as a "network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues." That exact quote is found on TenetMedia.com.

"To get government back on track, people like the listeners to this program have to get involved in government, an that’s essentially what Project 2025 is," Dans says in the podcast. "It’s a recruiting tool to say that this government is yours as much as anyone else’s."

Parts of Dans' interview with Pool were posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, starting on July 26. Dans announced he would resign from the Heritage Foundation, the umbrella organization for Project 2025, days later on July 30.

Dans did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment or to a message on LinkedIn. The Heritage Foundation's press office did not immediately respond to an email. An inquiry to Pool was not immediately returned.

"It’s a very sophisticated group against us," Dans said in a version of the podcast posted on YouTube on July 30. He said he was the victim of a "hoax" being perpetrated by a prominent liberal voting rights attorney.

"I mean it’s flattering in a sense to be the next target of the Democrat hoax, but these are sophisticated people who deal with rhetoric," Dans said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Project 2025 ex-chief appeared on outlet accused of Russia ties