As claims flooded in of “Russian support” for Bernie Sanders, some members of Congress were more concerned about the democratic deficit elsewhere. In recent weeks, the former Soviet republic of Georgia has received a series of open letters from US lawmakers warning that its fledgling democracy is in danger — as is an American oil and gas company operating there, Frontera Resources. But there’s something a bit odd going on — for every single congressman who mentioned Frontera by name has, in fact, received money from the company.

Among the half-dozen “rent-a-congressmen,” the Texas Republican Pete Olson went furthest in using his platform to push the lobbyists’ agenda. As the House of Representatives discussed bills related to Iran on January 28, Congressman Olson made a comical (and completely off-topic) speech on Georgia. He compared its ruling party’s leader, Bidzina Ivanishvili, to Oscar the Grouch on the grounds that “they are both puppets that have trashed their own house.” He went on to accuse the omnipotent Vladimir Putin of undermining Frontera — a firm which, he said, has created great jobs in Georgia. There are ninety-two workers fired by the company who would beg to differ — they’re missing between eleven and fourteen months in pay from the last couple of years.

As per usual, members of Congress are conflating the state of Georgian democracy with unfettered capitalism — or rather, with US business interests doing whatever the hell they like. This kind of interference is hardly new. But rather more novel is the specific US foothold in Georgia, the result of the Caspian Policy brokered by the Clinton administration. Pinning its failures to “Russian interference” just looks like desperation — expressed by congressmen paid handsomely to stand up for corporate interests.