bush aide caught offering access for donations

from raw replay: The Times of London reports: “A lobbyist with close ties to the White House is offering access to key figures in George W Bush’s administration in return for six-figure donations to the private library being set up to commemorate Bush’s presidency.” Stephen Payne is a Bush pioneer and a political appointee to the Homeland Security Advisory Council. RAW STORY has more details here. This video is from TimesOnline.co.uk, broadcast July 13, 2008.


update1: dhs & house oversight committee open investigations into payne’s cash-for-access scandal
from thinkprogess: Stephen Payne, a longtime Bush associate who was revealed to be selling access to top Bush administration officials in return for contributions to the Bush library, is now under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Payne currently serves on the Homeland Security Advisory Council. A spokesman for DHS called the revelations a “horribly unfortunate story” and said the Department is currently “looking into the facts.”

update2: payne’s ‘perceived bribery’ costs him dhs post