The former head of the conservative initiative Project 2025 featured on a podcast in July created by a company recently linked by the Department of Justice to Russian operatives.

Paul Dans joined podcaster Tim Pool on an episode from Tenet Media entitled “The Media is Lying About Project 2025.” During this appearance, Dans, who was leading Project 2025 at that time, claimed that a “very sophisticated group” was working against efforts to establish a policy framework for the forthcoming Trump administration.

Project 2025 is a comprehensive policy plan developed by the Heritage Foundation aimed at boosting presidential powers. Of the 38 authors contributing to it, at least 31 have ties to former President Donald Trump. The policies have faced backlash from Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris and their House campaign committee, who have worked to connect it to Trump.

While the Department of Justice’s indictment released on Wednesday did not specifically name Tenet Media, the company’s documents filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State and its public statements match the description in the indictment.

The indictment alleges that RT, formerly known as “Russia Today,” and its employees laundered nearly $10 million to “covertly fund and direct” what is referred to as “U.S. Company-1.”

The indictment states the company produces English-language content for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, describing itself as a “network of heterodox commentators focused on Western political and cultural matters.” This wording can also be found on TenetMedia.com.

“To put our government back on the right path, individuals like the listeners of this program need to engage in governance, and that’s fundamentally what Project 2025 represents,” Dans stated in the podcast. “It serves as a call to action, emphasizing that this government belongs to everyone.”

Segments of Dans’ conversation with Pool were shared on X, starting July 26. Dans subsequently announced he would step down from the Heritage Foundation, which oversees Project 2025, just a few days later on July 30.

Dans had not responded to emails or LinkedIn messages seeking his comments as of this writing. The press office of the Heritage Foundation also did not return an email inquiry. A request for comment from Pool was similarly unanswered.

“We are facing a very sophisticated group opposing us,” Dans mentioned on a YouTube version of the podcast uploaded on July 30. He claimed to be a target of a “hoax” orchestrated by a notable liberal attorney for voting rights.

“In a way, it’s somewhat flattering to be the next target of a Democratic hoax, but these are advanced individuals skilled in persuasive language,” Dans commented.