Let us know if you spot an inaccuracy: trackjpac@gmail.com
Research into the California political donor Robert Kotick reveals an indirect documented relationship to pro-Israel advocacy through his investment in a media organization known for its pro-Israel viewpoint. There is no direct documented evidence of Robert Kotick making political donations to specific pro-Israel lobbying organizations, such as AIPAC, or engaging in direct personal lobbying efforts for pro-Israel causes in the available search results.
Investment in The Free Press: Robert Kotick is documented as an investor in “The Free Press,” a media company founded by Bari Weiss. In March 2022, Kotick was among several investors who contributed between $1–$5 million to the publication. The Free Press is characterized by news media and political commentators as “conservative, ‘anti-woke’, and pro-Israel”. Specific descriptions of the publication’s stance include having “opinion pieces conveying strong support for Israel”. Additionally, some reports suggest that the publication’s reporting “consistently reflects a pro-Israel perspective or downplays the Gaza humanitarian crisis by characterizing any criticism of the Netanyahu government as ‘antisemitic’”. The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft has described The Free Press as “a pro-Israel media outlet often sympathetic to the neoconservative worldview”.
Political Donations and Stated Focus: Robert Kotick’s political donations have been made to both Republican and Democratic candidates, sometimes through limited liability companies such as 807080A LLC and Norgate LLC. A spokesperson for Kotick stated that his contributions are “focused on candidates and causes primarily in support of veterans issues and specifically veterans employment” through initiatives like the Call of Duty Endowment, which he co-chairs. The available records on his political contributions do not specify direct donations to organizations identified as part of the Israel lobby or to political campaigns explicitly focused on pro-Israel advocacy.
Internal Company Narrative: At a company level, an Infinity Ward Co-Founder reportedly claimed that Activision, under Kotick’s leadership, had pressured Call of Duty developers to create a game with a narrative involving “Iran invading Israel”. This suggestion was met with disgust by the majority of developers according to the co-founder. This indicates a potential pro-Israel thematic interest within the company during his tenure, though it is not a direct personal advocacy action by Kotick as a political donor or lobbyist.
| Candidate | Years | Direct Contributions | Behested Payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Becker | 2023 | $1,500 | $0 |
| Mike McGuire | 2023 | $1,500 | $0 |