GA Lawmaker Duped By 'Borat' Creator

ATLANTA, GA — A controversial Georgia state lawmaker is the latest politician to say he was duped by Sasha Baron Cohen into providing embarrassing footage for the "Borat" comedian's new show.

Rep. Jason Spencer, a Republican from Woodbine in south Georgia, dubbed Cohen and his crew "Hollywood liberals" and threatened to sue if footage of him shouting "provocative language" is aired on the Showtime comedy show.

In a statement to the New York Times, Spencer says he was tricked into participating in "bogus self-defense and anti-terrorism training" by the show's producers. He was told the video would be used to train elected officials who may be targeted by terrorists, he said.

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"They exploited my state of mind for profit and notoriety," Spencer said in the statement. "This media company's deceptive and fraudulent behavior is exactly why President Trump was elected."

A four-term lawmaker, Spencer was defeated for re-election in Georgia's May primaries. But in his time in office, the south Georgia representative has captured plenty of headlines for controversial statements and fringe legislation.

Last year, he was criticized after saying a former colleague — a black, female Democrat from Atlanta — would "go missing in the Okefenokee (Swamp)" over her criticism of Confederate memorials in the state.

He also sponsored legislation that would have banned Muslim women from wearing body-concealing burqas on public property or while driving. Republican leaders in the legislature pressed him to withdraw the bill.

Cohen, best known for the 2006 film "Borat," has for years created comedy sketches by posing as ridiculous characters and leading political figures and others into doing and saying outlandish things on camera. In the first episode of his new Showtime show, "Who Is America?" several politicians are shown voicing support for a fictional program that supposedly would put firearms in the hands of school children as young as 4 years old.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin are among the politicians who say they were tricked into interviews for the show.

The segment involving Spencer has not yet aired.

Photo courtesy Georgia House of Representatives