NDP MP calls for official admonishment of Canadian linked to Russian influence campaign

The New Democratic Party (NDP) is pushing for Canadian influencer and alleged Russian propaganda agent Lauren Chen to be reprimanded before the bar of the House of Commons for her refusal to provide answers to questions posed by Members of Parliament.

Chen, who is facing allegations in the United States linking her and her husband to a foreign influence operation, drew the ire of MPs from all political parties during her recent appearance before the public safety committee. She steadfastly declined to respond to their inquiries, prompting committee members to unanimously pass a motion to report a potential breach of privilege to the Speaker.

In a letter addressed to the Speaker, NDP MP Alistair MacGregor called for appropriate consequences to be meted out to Chen. MacGregor asserted that if Chen is found in contempt, she should be summoned “before the bar” of the House of Commons to face admonishment and to field questions from MPs.

“The shocking allegations against Ms. Chen in relation to her acceptance of millions of dollars from the Russian Government in exchange for disseminating disinformation as a social media influencer, with the aim of undermining Canada’s democratic institutions, are of the utmost seriousness,” MacGregor’s letter to the Speaker read.

The NDP MP emphasized that Chen must be compelled to respond to MPs’ inquiries in order to furnish Canadians with the information they rightfully deserve on matters concerning national security.

Public admonishment before the House, colloquially known as being “brought before the bar,” was once considered an infrequent measure, but has seen increased usage in recent times. This was exemplified earlier this year when GC Strategies partner Kristian Firth was found in contempt and summoned before the House for evading certain questions during a House government operations committee hearing.

The most recent instance of someone being ordered to appear before the bar happened in 2021 when Iain Stewart, the then-president of the Public Health Agency of Canada, faced reprimand after the agency failed to furnish documents to a parliamentary committee related to the termination of two scientists from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg.

The U.S. Justice Department’s indictment unsealed in September accused two Russian nationals of establishing a conservative media outlet as a façade for pro-Kremlin sentiments, including opposition to the war in Ukraine. Although the media outlet was not explicitly named in the indictment, it was evident from the details provided that Tenet Media, founded by Chen and Donovan, was being referenced.

The indictment alleged that two Russian individuals, who were RT employees, illicitly funneled almost $10 million into a company widely believed to be Tenet Media as part of a disinformation scheme. The indictment contended that the money was shared with conservative Tenet Media personalities to covertly promote the Kremlin’s agenda.

During her appearance before the committee, Chen made it clear in her opening statement that, as a subject of criminal investigation in the U.S., she would refrain from answering questions. Throughout the subsequent 45 minutes of questioning, Chen repeated the same nine-word phrase: “For the reasons already given, I have no comment,” even declining to confirm basic details like her name and citizenship.