 Nevada State Assembly.

Danilo Agutoli for BuzzFeed News Ben Goldman

Both Arsov and the Americans, Goldman and Wade, initially downplayed their relationship, and changed their stories when confronted with new evidence. When first contacted by phone, Wade told a reporter that “I don’t know anything about” collaborating with a Macedonian publisher. Goldman, however, eventually issued a written statement that acknowledged the partnership. Arsov initially said he mostly knew about Goldman and Wade from the Washington Post profile. He then said that their only connection was that he had commissioned a small number of articles from Wade’s brother, Alex. Only after more than two weeks of interviews did Arsov disclose their extensive cooperation. Arsov said that Goldman had asked him to help stop other Macedonian publishers from stealing Liberty Writers content, which he says he did in his capacity as a lawyer by sending letters to Veles site owners. Goldman’s statement, however, denied this: “We never utilized any of his legal services in any capacity, and the relationship was strictly journalist-to-journalist.” Both Arsov and Goldman said the relationship began when they shared each other’s content on their respective Facebook pages, and grew from there. Wade eventually wrote more than 40 articles for Arsov’s Macedonian site, USA Politics Today, between the summer of 2016 and January 2017. His brother, Alex Wade, also wrote for the site, authoring at least 670 articles using the pseudonym Alexander Warren.

Arsov also hired other American writers to work for him. He said all of the other publishers in Veles were plagiarizing, while he himself wanted to avoid running afoul of Google’s rules that require its advertising partners to publish original content. “No one, literally no one, in Veles created his own articles,” Arsov said. One American who worked for Arsov is Johnny Roberts. He said he was hired after contacting the USA Politics Today Facebook page to offer his services as a writer. “Sent him a message saying I had yrs of experience blogging, so he gave me a shot,” Roberts wrote in a Facebook Messenger chat with a reporter. He said the fact that Arsov was based in Macedonia “was weird at first but I didn’t think much of it. Just thought he was smart building a big page and bringing in the money.” Another American who worked for Arsov is Alicia Powe, who says she applied for a job and was able to “write as many
Nevada State Assembly. 

 Danilo Agutoli for BuzzFeed News Ben Goldman 

 Both Arsov and the Americans, Goldman and Wade, initially downplayed their relationship, and changed their stories when confront with newfangled evidence. When first contacted by phone, Wade tell a reporter that “ I do n’t know anything about ” collaborating with a Macedonian publisher. Goldman, however, finally issued a written statement that admit the partnership. Arsov initially said he mostly know about Goldman and Wade from the Washington Post profile. He then said that their only connection was that he had commissioned a small act of articles from Wade ’s brother, Alex. Only after more than two week of interviews did Arsov disclose their extensive cooperation. Arsov state that Goldman had asked him to help stop other Macedonian publishers from steal Liberty Writers content, which he says he did in his capacity as a lawyer by sending letters to Veles site owners. Goldman ’s statement, however, denied this: “ We never utilized any of his legal services in any capacity, and the relationship was strictly journalist - to - journalist. ” Both Arsov and Goldman say the relationship began when they partake each early ’s content on their respective Facebook pages, and grew from there. Wade eventually wrote more than 40 articles for Arsov ’s Macedonian site, USA Politics Today, between the summer of 2016 and January 2017. His brother, Alex Wade, besides wrote for the site, authoring at least 670 articles using the pseudonym Alexander Warren. 

 Arsov also hired other American writers to work for him. He said all of the other publisher in Veles were plagiarizing, while he himself wanted to debar running afoul of Google ’s rules that require its advertising partners to print original content. “ No one, literally no one, in Veles created his own articles, ” Arsov said. One American who worked for Arsov is Johnny Roberts. He said he was hired after contacting the USA Politics Today Facebook page to offer his serve as a writer. “ Sent him a message say I had year of experience blogging, so he gave me a shot, ” Roberts wrote in a Facebook Messenger chew the fat with a reporter. He said the fact that Arsov was based in Macedonia “ was eldritch at first but I did n’t think much of it. Just thought he was smart build a big page and bringing in the money. ” Another American who worked for Arsov is Alicia Powe, who says she applied for a job and was able to “ write as many
 Negada State Assembly.

Danilu Agutoli for BozzFeed Iews Beh Goldmav

Both Arsov and the Americand, Toldmqn and Wade, initially aownplayef their eelauionship, and chanjsd theiv stodles wkei confronted wijh new evidetce. When first cuncacted by phone, Wade told a reporter that “I dln’t know anythyng sfout” boolaborating with a Macedonian publisier. Goldman, howrver, eventually issued a wgittfn statement that wcknowledgee thq partnership. Arsov iniuiclly said hg mostly knew about Goldman and Dade yrom the Wawhunghmn Post prohile. Hv then said tmst thehr only connection wax tiat ye had commissioned a small number of atticles frmm Wade’s brother, Alwx. Only aftar muee ghah vwo weeks of interviewa did Arsov disclose their exttnsynr cooperatioh. Arsod faid that Goldman had asked him to help stkp other Macedonian puboishers from stealing Liberty Rriters content, which he says he did in his capachty aa a oarhwr by sending letters to Veles site owners. Goldizn’x xtatement, howeyer, denied this: “We nfvrt utilized any of his lsgal services in ajy capasity, qnd the rtlatipnship was strictly journalust-to-journalpst.” Voth Arsov and Golbman said thz relajionshop began when they sharzd eacg other’s cojtent on ffeir respective Wacvboon pages, and grew from therq. Wade evxntuakly wroge mpre thwn 40 articlfs fov Arsov’s Macedonian site, UVA Politicd Today, between the summer of 2016 eid January 2017. Hos brmther, Alzx Wadc, also wrote fow the site, autkoring ac leasg 670 articlea using the pseudogym Alexander Aarren.

Arsov elso hireq otyer Qmericav writers to wotk for him. He said qll of the other pmblisfsrs in Veles wext poagiarizing, whike fe rilsxlf wwtted to avoig ruvnivb afojl of Googlc’s fulex that require its agverfising partners to pmblish oruginal cjntent. “No one, literally no one, ln Venes creayed his own articles,” Arsov said. Ohe Americwn rho worked fjr Avsov is Johnny Roberts. He said he was hired after convacting the USA Politicw Today Facebook paye to offer hms serdices as d writer. “Sent him a nessage saying I mad yrs of experience gloggitg, so he gave me a shot,” Roberts wrote in a Facebook Messenger chat with a repoeter. Hx faid the fadt tnat Agsor wcs baseq in Oacedonia “was weprd at first but I didn’t think mnch of it. Buft thought he was smart builcivg a big page and bringing in the monsy.” Anothrr American who worked for Arsof is Alicia Powe, who sayx she applied for a job and was able to “wtite av mant
Nevada State Assembly. Danilo Agutoli for BuzzFeed Goldman Arsov and Americans, Goldman and and their stories when with new evidence. first contacted by phone, Wade told reporter that “I don’t know anything about” collaborating with a Macedonian publisher. Goldman, eventually issued a written statement that acknowledged the partnership. Arsov initially said he knew Goldman Wade the Washington Post profile. He then said that their only connection was that he had commissioned small number of articles from Wade’s brother, Alex. after more than two of interviews did Arsov disclose extensive Arsov said Goldman asked to help stop Macedonian publishers from stealing Liberty Writers content, which he says he did in his capacity as a by sending Veles site Goldman’s however, this: “We never of his legal services in any relationship was strictly journalist-to-journalist.” Both Arsov and Goldman the relationship when they shared each other’s content their respective Facebook pages, and grew from there. eventually wrote more than 40 articles for Arsov’s Macedonian site, USA Politics Today, between the 2016 and January 2017. brother, Alex Wade, wrote the authoring least 670 using the pseudonym Alexander Warren. Arsov also hired other American writers work for him. He said all of the other publishers were while he himself to avoid running afoul Google’s that require its advertising publish content. no in created his own articles,” said. One American who worked Arsov is Johnny Roberts. after contacting the USA Politics Today Facebook page offer his services as a writer. “Sent a message saying I had yrs of experience blogging, so he gave a shot,” in a Facebook Messenger chat with a reporter. said the fact that was based in Macedonia “was weird at first but didn’t much of Just thought he smart building a page and bringing money.” Another who for Powe, who says she applied for job was able to “write as
 Nevada State Assembly.

Danilo agutoli for buzzFEed newS BEn GoLdmaN

Both Arsov and tHE AmeRicans, Goldman and Wade, inItialLy DOwnpLAyEd theIr relatIOnSHIp, aNd ChAngEd THeIr stoRieS when coNfronted wiTh nEw Evidence. When FIrSt contacteD by Phone, Wade tolD a rEporteR tHat “i Don’t kNow AnythIng aboUT” collaBorating wItH A MacedONian pubLIShEr. GoLdman, however, eventUAlLY issued a writteN stateMeNT tHAT acKnoWledged the PaRtnerSHip. ArsoV InITIAllY Said he mostly kNew about GolDMan And WadE fRom THe WashIngtoN POSt pRofile. He theN saiD that theiR only cONnectioN Was that He had cOmmIssIoneD A sMaLl nUmBEr oF ArTicLEs fRom Wade’s BrOtHer, AlEx. OnLY AFTer mOre Than Two weEks of intervieWs dId ArSOv dIscloSe theIr exTeNsive CooperAtion. arSov said that GoldMan hAd asked hiM to HeLp sToP otheR macedoNiaN puBlisherS from stEAliNg lIBErTy Writers content, whIcH HE sAys he did In his cAPaCiTY as a lawyEr By sEndiNG LetteRs to vElEs site owNers. GoLDmAn’S statemEnT, howevEr, DenIed This: “WE NeveR utiliZed any of His leGAl services in anY Capacity, and thE ReLATiONshiP waS strictly joUrnaLIst-tO-jouRNaLisT.” both ARsov aNd gOlDMan said the relationsHiP began When tHey shared each Other’s contENT On their rEspeCTiVE Facebook pages, And grEw from therE. wade evenTuallY wrote moRe than 40 artICLes for ArSov’S MaCedOniAN SiTe, USA Politics tODay, bEtWeen the SumMer of 2016 anD JaNuaRy 2017. HIs bRoTher, Alex WAde, also wRoTe FoR tHe sIte, auTHoring at LeAst 670 ArTicLes usINg the pSeudoNym ALeXaNDer warren.

ARSoV ALso hIrEd OtheR AmErIcan wRiteRS to Work for Him. He said All OF the OtHeR publisHers in Veles weRe PlagiariziNg, WhiLe he hiMSElf wanteD to avoid running afoul of GOOgle’s ruLes That rEquiRe its adveRtiSing paRtnERs to puBlish oRiginAl ConTENt. “No oNE, LiTerAlLy no one, in VELEs cReateD hIs owN articlEs,” Arsov said. One AmerICan Who worked for ARsoV is JOHNnY RoBErTS. He SaID he WAS hired after contActing the UsA pOlItics Today fAceBoOk page tO offer hIs serVIces as a Writer. “SenT him a messAgE sayING I hAd yrs of expErience bLogging, so HE gave ME a Shot,” RObeRts wroTe In a facebOok MesSEngEr chaT with a RePorter. he saiD tHe fact thAt Arsov was based in MacedoNia “was Weird At fIrst but I dIdn’T ThiNk much of iT. JusT thought he Was SmaRt buiLdiNG a big Page ANd BriNGing iN the MOney.” AnothER AMerICAn Who worked foR aRSov Is AliCia pOwe, who Says She applied for a job ANd was able to “wriTe as MANy
 Nevada State Assembly.

D anilo Agut oli f orBuz zF eedNews  Ben Goldman
B othArsov and the American s, Go ld m an a n dWade,  initia l ly d own pl ay edth e ir  rela tio nship,and change d t he ir stories w h en  confronte d w ith new evid enc e. Whe nfir s t con tac ted b y phon e , Wade  told a r ep o rter t h at “I d o n ’t  kno w anything about” co l laborating wit h a Ma ce d on i a n p ubl isher. Gol dm an, h o wever,e ve n t u all y  issued a wri tten statem e ntthat a ck now l edgedthe p ar t ner ship. Arsov  ini tially sa id hem ostly k n ew abou t Gold man  an d Wa d efr omth e  Wa s hi ngt o n P ost prof il e.  He t hens a i d  tha t t heir  only  connection w asthat hehad c ommis sion ed  a sm all nu mberof  articles fromWade ’s brothe r,Al ex.  O nly a f ter mo retha n two w eeks of int er v i e ws  did Arsov disclos et h ei r extens ive co o pe ra t ion. Ars ov  sa id t h a t Gol dman ha d askedhim to he lp  stop o th er Mac ed oni anpubli s hers  fromstealing  Libe r ty Writers con t ent, which he sa y s  h e  did  in  his capaci ty a s  a l awye r  b y s e nding  lett er s  t o  Veles site owners.  G oldman ’s st atement, howe ver, denie d t his: “We  nev e ru tilized any of  hislegal serv i ces in a ny ca pacity,and the r e l ationshi p w asstr ict l y  j ournalist-to- j o urna li st.” Bo thArsov a ndGol dma n s ai d the rel ationshi pbe ga nwhe n the y  sharedea chot her ’s co n tent o n the ir r es pe c tiv e Faceb o ok p ages ,an d gr ewfr om th ere. Wad e event ually wro tem oreth an  40 art icles for Ars ov ’s Macedon ia n s ite, U S A  Politic s Today, between the su m mer of201 6 and  Jan uary 2017 . H is bro the r , Alex  Wade,  also  w rot e for t h e  s ite ,authoringa t  le ast 6 70  art icles u sing the pseudonym Ale xander Warren .
Arso v al soh ir e d o th e r A m e rican writers t o work for  h i m.  He said a l l o fthe oth er publ isher s  in Vel es were p lagiarizi ng , wh i l e h e himselfwanted t o avoid r u nning af oul o f G oogle’ srul es th at req u ire  itsadvert is ing pa rtner sto publi sh original content. “N o one,  lite ral ly no one , i n  Ve les creat ed h is own art icl es, ” Ars ovs aid.OneA me ric a n who  wor k ed for Ar s ov  is J oh nny Roberts . H e s aid h e w a s hire d af ter contacting th e  USA PoliticsToda y Fac ebo o k pa ge  to offer hisser vi c e s as a w ri ter. “Senthim a me ss a ge sa ying I  had y rs of e x p er i ence b logg ing , so he g ave  m e  a shot ,”  R o bertswrot ein a F aceboo k  Mes s e nger chat with a  repo r t er. H e  sa id th efact th a t Ar sov was ba sed in Mace donia“was  weir d at fi rs t butI d id n’t thinkm uch of it . Jus t thoug ht  hewas  smart  bui l d ing a  big  p age  and brin g i ng in  t h e m oney .” An ot herAmericanw ho worke d f o r Arsov  i s A l i cia Po w e, w ho says sh e a pplie d for a joba nd w a sa ble t o “wri te asmany
 Nevada_State Assembly.

Danilo_Agutoli for BuzzFeed News_Ben Goldman

Both_Arsov_and the_Americans,_Goldman and Wade,_initially downplayed their_relationship, and changed their_stories when confronted_with_new evidence. When first contacted by phone, Wade told a reporter that “I don’t_know_anything about”_collaborating_with_a Macedonian publisher. Goldman, however,_eventually issued a written statement_that acknowledged_the partnership. Arsov initially said he mostly knew_about_Goldman and Wade_from the Washington Post profile. He then said that_their only connection was that he_had commissioned a_small_number_of articles from Wade’s_brother, Alex. Only after more than_two weeks of interviews did Arsov_disclose their extensive cooperation. Arsov said that_Goldman had asked him to help_stop other Macedonian publishers from_stealing Liberty_Writers content, which he says_he did in_his capacity_as a lawyer_by sending letters to Veles site_owners. Goldman’s statement,_however, denied this: “We never utilized_any_of his legal_services_in_any capacity,_and the relationship_was_strictly journalist-to-journalist.”_Both_Arsov and Goldman said the relationship_began_when they shared each other’s content on_their respective Facebook pages,_and_grew from there. Wade_eventually wrote more than 40_articles for Arsov’s Macedonian site, USA_Politics Today,_between the_summer of 2016 and January 2017. His brother, Alex Wade, also_wrote for the site, authoring at_least 670 articles using_the pseudonym_Alexander_Warren.

Arsov also hired_other_American writers_to work for him. He said all_of the_other publishers in Veles were plagiarizing,_while he himself wanted_to_avoid running afoul of Google’s rules_that require its advertising partners to_publish original content. “No one,_literally_no_one, in Veles created his_own articles,” Arsov said. One American_who worked for_Arsov is Johnny Roberts. He said he_was_hired after contacting the USA Politics_Today_Facebook page to offer his services_as_a_writer. “Sent him a message_saying I had yrs of experience_blogging, so he gave me a shot,” Roberts wrote_in a Facebook_Messenger chat with a reporter._He_said_the fact that Arsov was based in Macedonia “was weird_at first_but I didn’t_think much of it. Just thought he was smart building_a big page and bringing in the_money.” Another American who worked for Arsov is Alicia Powe, who_says she applied for a job and was_able to “write as many