What Do We Know About the Connection Between Congressman Joe Wilson and Formula TV, and What Does the FARA Registry Reveal?

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Senator Joe Wilson
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On December 27, the platform “Georgia First” published a social media card and an article discussing the financial connection between Republican Congressman Joe Wilson and the Georgian television channel Formula. The published material claims that Wilson “receives money from Kezerashvili’s Formula” for lobbying activities, with the latest tranche of $1,000, allegedly made on March 18, 2024. Additionally, “Georgia First” links the congressman’s recent statements regarding Georgia to this very payment. The article states that information about the contracts is available in the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) registry.

The same information was shared on Facebook by the founder of the conservative platform “Georgia First,” Vato Shakarishvili. Based on the “Georgia First,” the information was also disseminated by Tamta Megrelishvili, a member of the political party People’s Power, and Tako Mamaiashvili, an admin of the anti-Western group “Anti-Maidan.”

On the government-affiliated TV channel POSTV’s program “The Big Show,” government propagandist Goga Khaindrava also claimed that Joe Wilson received money from Formula TV. According to him, Wilson was paid $1,000 per post on platform X by “Formula.”

Goga Khaindrava (38:15): “This Wilson, this thousand-dollar prostitute, worth a thousand dollars! Today, the official FARA data was published, showing that he received $1,000 from Formula, from Kezerashvili. [Joe Wilson] is the chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission. Just imagine the level of degradation when the chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission takes $1,000 from Kezerashvili to post a tweet. Yesterday, he posted five tweets in a row. That means he got $5,000 for Christmas.”

Senator Joe Wilson

FARA documents do not confirm that Congressman Joe Wilson receives payments from Formula TV for posting on X or for lobbying activities. It is also false that he received $1,000 from Formula in March 2024. The only contact between Wilson and Formula recorded in the FARA registry is dated September 26, 2023, and it specifies that the purpose was a meeting to discuss South Caucasus security issues. As for the payment received in 2024, it was transferred to Joe Wilson by lobbyist Todd Webster, and Formula is not mentioned anywhere.

  • The only contact between Wilson and Formula mentioned in the FARA records

The FARA registry (Active Registrants with Political Activities) contains information about several contacts of Formula TV. The television station collaborated with the lobbying firm Cornerstone Government Affairs, and their joint 138 different contacts can be found. This means that, through the lobbying efforts of this company, Formula planned meetings with 138 private or legal entities, requested support, held consultations, etc.

As for Joe Wilson and Formula, only one contact is recorded, dated September 26, 2023. Along with Wilson, this communication also involved Michael MacHarg, Joe Wilson’s legislative assistant and deputy communications director. The stated purpose of the contact was “to request a meeting with Formula TV to discuss South Caucasus regional security.”

Update 10.01.24: In the original version of the article, Michael McHarg,  Wilson’s legislative assistant, was referred to as a senator. His position has been corrected.

სენატორი ჯო უილსონი
Source: The United States Department of Justice

In 2024, Formula used the services of a lobbying firm several times. The FARA registry lists eight such instances, all of which involved requests to arrange meetings with representatives of the McCain Institute and date to the month of January.

  • What does the FARA-registered company’s report say about Formula TV, and who paid Wilson $1,000?

The TV company Formula signed a contract with the lobbying firm Cornerstone Government Affairs on May 22, 2023. The contract signed between the parties specifies the scope of the agreement. Specifically, the lobbying firm committed to promoting Formula’s priorities within relevant U.S. circles, assisting in disseminating ideas important to the television channel in American media, and conducting media monitoring, among other activities. The collaboration’s goal is to inform American public figures, media outlets, and organizations about Georgia and the independent media operating in the country. To achieve these objectives, the TV company paid $105,000.

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The date of the contract signed between Formula and the lobbying firm
Source: 6401 Supplemental Statementt

It is noteworthy that Formula terminated its contract with the lobbying firm in February 2024. According to the FARA database, Wilson received the $1,000 donation in March 2024. The report from the lobbying firm Cornerstone Government Affairs indicates that from February through July, they did not receive any financial benefit from Formula, nor did the company provide any services to the television channel during this period.

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The termination date of the collaboration between the lobbying firm and Formula

On the final pages of the report published by the lobbying firm, it is explicitly indicated which politicians or political organizations received payments from the firm’s lobbyists. It reads that the payment to Joe Wilson was made by Todd Webster, not by Formula.

Screenshot 2024 12 29 103207 What Do We Know About the Connection Between Congressman Joe Wilson and Formula TV, and What Does the FARA Registry Reveal?

Webster is one of the lobbyists at Cornerstone Government Affairs, providing lobbying services to various entities. In its article, “Georgia First” states that the payment to Wilson was intended for his “political campaign or political action plan.” This transaction has no connection to Formula TV. Additionally, the company’s reports (12) submitted under FARA regulations do not indicate that Todd Webster provided lobbying services for the television channel.

სენატორი ჯო უილსონი
Lobbyists with whom Formula TV collaborated

Accordingly, Joe Wilson received the payment not from Formula but from one of the lobbyists at Cornerstone Government Affairs, and this occurred after Formula had already ended its collaboration with the firm. Cornerstone Government Affairs works with numerous entities, and based on the current data, there is no reason to suggest that the donation to Wilson is linked to Formula, especially since Formula is not mentioned at all in the FARA registry or in the company’s reports regarding Joe Wilson in 2024.

  • Who is Joe Wilson, and why did he become a target of government propaganda?

Joe Wilson is an American politician, a Republican member of Congress, and the chairman of the Helsinki Commission. On May 24, Wilson, along with other members of Congress, introduced the MEGOBARI Act. The document aims to support democracy and the rule of law in Georgia, highlights the decline of democracy in the country, calls for sanctions to ensure accountability for Georgian politicians, establishes a working group for democracy monitoring, and advocates for the deepening of bilateral relations and support. The MEGOBARI Act also envisages the imposition of sanctions for supporting Russian interests in Georgia.

The discrediting of Joe Wilson by pro-government actors began after he introduced the MEGOBARI Act and started discussing sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the Georgian Dream party. In recent days, Wilson posted several times on platform X, criticizing Ivanishvili in each post. For example, he referred to Ivanishvili as a supporter of China and Iran and an enemy of America, asking whether Ivanishvili was ready for sanctions and why he entrusted the construction of the Anaklia Sea Port to a Chinese company, which had been sanctioned by the U.S. Wilson also criticized Prime Minister Kobakhidze for his visit to Iran and for supporting those who wish death to America and planned the assassination of Donald Trump.

On December 27, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed financial sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili.

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Topic: Politics
Violation: Disinformation
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