Undeterred, Cohen’s team tried another tactic: flattery.

In February, Walsh received an inquiry from “Alexis Rothe” from the fictitious Yerushalayim Television. In an email, “Rothe” informed Walsh he had been named to Israel’s “70 at 70” list in honor of the 70th anniversary of the nation’s founding.

“The people of Israel understand that they owe their very existence to the unwavering support of powerful figures like Congressman Joe Walsh,” she wrote. “We have already sat with Tony Blair, Rupert Murdoch, Larry Ellison, Bono, and Steven Spielberg.”

This time, the former congressman was able to make the proposed interview date work.

Unfortunately for the Walshes, they apparently forgot Ronald Reagan’s dictum, “trust but verify.”