Russian Oligarch Known As 'Putin's Chef' Admits To US Election Meddling

Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian oligarch with ties to the Kremlin, admitted to interfering in U.S. elections and vowed to continue, confirming accusations he once denied.

Prigozhin is otherwise known as "Putin's Chef" due to his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a post to Telegram on Monday, Prigozhin boasted of the success Russia has had in election interference, and their plans to continue doing so.

"Gentlemen, we have interfered, are interfering, and will interfere. Carefully, precisely, surgically and in our own way, as we know how to do," Prigozhin said on the social media app.

Prigozhin has no official position in the Russian government, but his statement marks the first admission of any election interference by a member of Putin's inner circle.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed Prigozhin's comments on Monday, telling reporters his remarks "do not tell us anything new or surprising."

"It's well known and well documented in the public domain that entities associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin have sought to influence elections around the world, including the United States," said Jean-Pierre. "The U.S. has worked to expose and counter Russia's malign influence efforts as we discover them."

Jean-Pierre also noted that Prigozhin has been sanctioned by the U.S. due to his funding of the Internet Research Agency, an infamous Russian troll farm accused of meddling in several recent U.S. elections.

In 2018, Prigozhin was charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. by special counsel Robert Mueller in relation to the alleged election meddling.

The U.K. and European Union have also issued sanctions against Prigozhin, who in recent months has shed his shadowy reputation and developed a more public persona.

In September, Prigozhin admitted to founding the notorious Wagner Group, a multinational mercenary outfit that has aided Russia in many of its military excursions.

The Wagner Group has supplemented the Russian military throughout the war in Ukraine, giving Prigozhin outsized influence in Putin's circle.

More recently, the Washington Post reported that Prigozhin had secretly raised concerns over Russia's handling of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, using his newfound influence as the war effort falters.