The NDP is calling for Canadian influencer and alleged Russian propaganda agent Lauren Chen to be admonished before the bar of the House of Commons for refusing to provide “Canadians with the answers they rightfully deserve.”
Chen, who faces allegations in the U.S. linking her and her husband to a foreign influence operation, angered MPs from all parties during an appearance earlier this week before the public safety committee when she refused to answer their questions.
Frustrated committee members then unanimously adopted a motion to send a report outlining a potential breach of privilege to the Speaker.
In a letter sent to the Speaker Thursday, NDP MP Alistair MacGregor called for consequences.
MacGregor said that if Chen is found in contempt, she should be called “before the bar” of the House of Commons for admonishment and to take questions from MPs.
“The shocking allegations against Ms. Chen in relation to her accepting millions of dollars from the Russian Government in exchange for intentionally spreading disinformation as a social media influencer, with the express purpose to sow distrust in and undermine Canada’s democratic institutions, is a matter of the most serious nature,” reads a letter MacGregor sent to the Speaker.
The NDP MP said she should have to answer MPs’ questions to provide “Canadians with the answers they rightfully deserve in relation to issues of national security.”
During a parliamentary committee hearing, MPs questioned far-right influencer Lauren Chen, accused in a U.S. indictment of collaborating with an alleged Russian propaganda campaign. Conservative MP Raquel Dancho expressed frustration at Chen’s refusal to answer any questions.
Public admonishment before the House was once considered a rare measure, although it’s been used more often in recent years. It’s referred to as being “brought before the bar,” in reference to a brass rail meant to bar strangers from entering the chamber.
Earlier this year, GC Strategies partner Kristian Firth was found in contempt and yanked before the House for refusing to answer certain questions during a House government operations committee appearance last month. GC Strategies was the main contractor for the controversial ArriveCan app.
Before that, it had been a century since anyone had been ordered to appear before the bar to answer questions in front of the House.
In 2021, Iain Stewart, the then-president of the Public Health Agency of Canada, appeared before the House to be reprimanded after the agency failed to turn over documents to a parliamentary committee relating to the firing of two scientists from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg.
Indictment alleges Kremlin-backed disinformation campaign
In September, the U.S. Justice Department unsealed an indictment against two Russian nationals, accusing them of setting up a conservative media outlet as a front for pro-Kremlin views, including opposition to the Ukraine war.
The media outlet was not named in the indictment but it was clear from its details that the charges referred to Tenet Media, founded in 2023 by Chen and her husband, Liam Donovan.
The U.S. indictment alleges two Russians — both employees of state broadcaster RT — illegally funnelled nearly $10 million into a company widely reported to be Tenet as part of a disinformation campaign.
The indictment says the company in question is self-described as “a network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues,” which matches word-for-word the description on Tenet Media’s homepage. The indictment also said the company was incorporated on Jan. 19, 2022, which matches publicly available records with the Tennessee Secretary of State.
According to the indictment, prosecutors believe the money was shared with the conservative Tenet Media personalities to covertly promote the Kremlin’s agenda.
Chen and Donovan have not been charged.
During her committee appearance Tuesday, Chen used her opening statement to signal that as the target of criminal investigation in the U.S., she would not be answering questions.
“Both Canada and the United States strongly value the right to be free from self-incrimination,” she said.
Over the 45 minutes that followed, Chen repeated the same nine words: “For the reasons already given, I have no comment.”
She repeated that line even when she was being asked to confirm her name and citizenship.