The President's "Cash for Access" Fundraiser

The Sunday Times (UK) has reported that a Washington lobbyist who sits on the US Homeland Security Advisory Council and enjoys close ties to the Bush administration has been exposed for selling access to high Bush administration officials in return for six-figure fees for his firm, Worldwide Strategic Partners, and contributions to the Bush Presidential Library.

Stephen Payne who, according to The Sunday Times has raised more than $1 million for the Republican Party in recent years, was filmed (see above) offering to arrange meetings with Dick Cheney, Condoleeza Rice, "and other senior officials in return for a payment of $250,000 toward the library in Texas" and fees totaling "somewhere between $600,000 and $750,000."

Payne was asked by an undercover investigator to arrange the meetings for an exiled former central Asian president.