(CNN) -- It's a grass-roots protest movement composed of the newly politicized and people distrustful of hierarchy. So how is it possible to be an illegitimate Tea Party member? 

Ask Republicans in Nevada. Some are accusing Jon Scott Ashjian, a new Tea Party candidate running for U.S. Senate, of being a fake. The allegation? He was put in the race by agents of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to siphon votes from the GOP. 

"No doubt about it," says Danny Tarkanian, one of the many Republican Senate candidates hoping to challenge Reid in November. 

"Nobody in the Tea Party knows who he is. He didn't know any of the principles of the Tea Party," Tarkanian tells CNN. 

Tarkanian even accuses "Harry Reid's staff, campaign, whatever" of picking Ashjian because he's Armenian, as is Tarkanian. He explains, "They know the Armenians are very close, they'll vote for each other." 

As for Reid, an aide dismisses the accusations. As does Reid, who says he's never met Ashjian or "anyone in his family." Reid tells CNN, "I think there are too many conspiratorialists in the world today. This is a free country." 

Sue Lowden, the Republican front-runner in the Senate primary, according to recent polls, is the former Nevada Republican Party chair and seems to be the Republicans' best hope of unseating Reid in November. Or at least she did, until Ashjian got into the race. 

Lowden says she's been very active with Tea Party groups in Nevada. "I am a Tea Party voter, absolutely." Which is why she says she finds it "a little strange" that Ashjian is emerging now. "I don't know who this person is. He's never been involved with anything that I'm aware of in this state." 
Who is Jon Scott Ashjian?
For which party?
Why was he put into the race?
Does he know tea party ideals?
Who is Harry Reid?
What is Ashjian's nationality?
Who else is also?
Does Reid admit to pushing Ashjian into the race?
Who is the Republican front runner?
She is the former chair of what?
Does she participate in the Tea Party?
Does she recognize Ashjian?
Has he been active in Tea Party politics?
When is the election?
Why does Tarkanian think Reid picked Ashjian?
Who dismissed the allegations?
What does he claim there are too many of today?
Which news station did he speak to?
How many other candidates are in the race?
Who said they are a tea party voter?
senate candidate
Jon Scott Ashjian, a new Tea Party candidate
Tea Party
a new Tea Party candidate
to siphon votes
He was put in the race by agents of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to siphon votes from the GOP
no
He didn't know any of the principles of the Tea Party," Tarkanian tells CNN. 
Senate Majority Leader
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Armenian
 Ashjian because he's Armenian
Tarkanian
 Tarkanian
no
 an aide dismisses the accusations. As does Reid,
Sue Lowden
Sue Lowden, the Republican front-runner 
Nevada Republican Party chair
former Nevada Republican Party chair
yes
Lowden says she's been very active with Tea Party groups in Nevada
no
"I don't know who this person is. He's never been involved with anything that I'm aware of in this state.
no
 He's never been involved with anything that I'm aware of in this state."
November
 Republicans' best hope of unseating Reid in November
because Armenians are very close, they'll vote for each other."
They know the Armenians are very close, they'll vote for each other." 
Reid's aide
As for Reid, an aide dismisses the accusations
conspiratorialists
"I think there are too many conspiratorialists 
CNN
Reid tells CNN
4, that are listed in the story
one of the many Republican Senate candidates
Lowden
Lowden says she's been very active with Tea Party groups in Nevada. "I am a Tea Party voter, absolutely