McCain Aide Linked To Bush Library "Cash For Access" Scandal

Earlier this month, the Sunday Times caught longtime Bush associate Stephen Payne on tape offering access to top Bush administration officials in exchange for "six-figure donations to the private library being set up to commemorate Bush's presidency." Payne, who is now being investigated by the Homeland Security Department and the House Oversight Committee, made the offer to Kazakh politician Yerzhan Dosmukhamedov, who is also known as Eric Dos.

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The Times reports that a top adviser to Sen. John McCain, lobbyist Randy Scheunemann, has direct ties to the company that is alleged to have funneled the funds:

In a further link, Randy Scheunemann, chief foreign policy and national security adviser to John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, was listed in the WSE brochure as part of its executive team. Scheunemann and Associates, his lobbying firm, is reported as having represented the Caspian Alliance in 2005.

At the undercover meeting last week, Payne said Scheunemann had been "working with me on my payroll for five of the last eight years". When confronted over the link to KMG, Payne declined to comment.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[SouthpawSass]

Is this any worse then renting out the Lincoln bedroom?

[condew]

Yes, much worse; very close to accepting bribes.

[waynesmyer]

"As any fool can tell! We got's to have money for my glorious War Library, cause , I am running out of copies of "My Pet Goat" No! not you, Cheney!
your beloved Great War Presinator, GW "Baby" Bu$h

[layman]

According to Times of London Payne has been asked to resign from his post at the Home Land Security Advisory board.

What a shame this kind of investigative reporting not being done by the US corporate media but the foreign media.

For the truth and real story about the US of A, go to the foreign press.

[condew]

Yes, it shows how the Neocons have corrupted everything they touch. I remember when our press was the one envied for its freedom and honesty.

[losangeleno]

Isn't it ironic that Bush is busy getting cash for access donations to build his library, when he can't even read? Guess it will be filled with pop-up books and illustrations.

[rosal]

I want to see this story on cable tomorrow. I just won't hold my breath. Corporate Media doesn't like this facts to make public.

[Bettysdad]

It's only a scandal if you're not a Republican.

It's the normal way of being in power if you're a rightie.

[dezzertguy]

Bill Clinton is not a rightie.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Neither is he a republican.

[sharonh]

By even the most conservative use of the word, this is treason and should be treated as such.

[Tommygun264]

And what will the mainstream corporate media make of this? NOTHING. They're too busy sniffing after Obama hoping he'll trip or say something they can misrepresent and invent controversy around.

[armadillious2002]

McCain = Bush! Plain and simple.

[1028jenn]

You'll never see this story on FAUX News and we'll never hear about it on conservative radio. Hope this gets picked up by more media ! This stuff needs to get out --

[jobama]

Will not be cover by any media period. (except Kieth) If other wise i will cut my ......don't need jessi

[macbabe]

Start listening to progressive radio, Ed Schultz is GREAT!
...turn off the TV!!

[dezzertguy]

Whether Bush, Clinton and the Lincoln bedroom, or Carter Center funding from the MIddle East, this is our system. Private funding is needed and influence is what politicans work for and attain. Clinton got $20MM from a Canadian oil man for a trip to Kazakhstan. This is the reason Gore will not return to publice life, Clinton and he can raise much more money in private.

[condew]

There is a big difference between inviting supporters to your home (The white house is the home of the president), and accepting bribes to veto legislation or not enforce the laws already passed, use unconstitutional "signing statements", appoint a crony to every office who is antithetical to the purpose of that office, and turn the justice department into a way to punish your competition rather than dispense, you know, justice.

These false equivalences get really tiresome. Republicans are very good at laundering bribes, and that is in a class all by itself.

[dezzertguy]

You are a Dem supporter, your comments are understandable.

[Tropiholic]

if this was an obama aide it would be on every news channel 24/7 for the next week

[darthdarcy]

McCain may equal Bush for scandals, even before he enters office...at this rate...

[JiminNC]

Like a cancer.

[danoj]

No worse than offering the Lincoln bedroom for similar stuff. Both sides do it.

[dezzertguy]

Correct. And Denise Rich donated to the Clinton Library as her ex husband was pardoned.

[condew]

But it fits the Republican image with all those people either in jail on in court trying to stay out of jail; Cunningham, Abramof, DeLay -- there are just too many corrupt Republicans to remember them all, and then there are the scofflaws like Miers, Bolton, Rove; you know the people who know they will be up on criminal charges and are hiding the facts as best they can.

[zigzag1]

The Bush Libarry...what a joke. He can't even pronounce the word. Perhaps they could combine it with his sewage plant. As ludicrous as Reagan's Library. Should be full of coloring books. Can we please have a President with intelligence for a change?

[sharonh]

Can we get the "public servants" to stop building shrines to themselves for us to worship at?

[danoj]

Didn't Bush grt his degree from yale, where did you go to college?

[donttasemebro]

Some of us get into college on our own merits, while others get in because they have powerful friends and family who can buy them entry into the country's top academic institutions. Which category do you think Shrub belongs to? He would not be accepted at a community college on his own merits.