Why the McCain-Iseman Story Matters

Nothing to do with sex -- who cares about such trivial matters?

I'm talking corruption. You know, things that actually matter.

Click the following for DN! on this: Behind the John McCain Lobbying Scandal: A Look at How McCain Urged the Federal Communications Commission to Act on Behalf of Paxson Communications.

More here: new developments. And this:

New Questions Raised Over McCain Lobbying Story

In news on John McCain’s run for the White House, Newsweek has uncovered more information on the McCain lobbying scandal. Last week McCain issued a sweeping denial to rebut a New York Times story about his ties to a Washington lobbyist. According to the Times, McCain wrote two letters to the Federal Communications Commission regarding Paxson Communications, a client of the lobbyist Vicki Iseman. At the time, McCain served as chair of the Senate Commerce Committee. Last week, McCain said he never spoke to anybody from Paxson or the lobbying firm about the matter. But that claim seems to be contradicted by McCain’s own past statements. In 2002 McCain said “I was contacted by Mr. Lowell Paxson on this issue. He wanted their approval very bad for purposes of his business.” McCain’s quote appears in a sworn deposition from 2002 obtained by Newsweek.

Rep. Renzi (R-AZ) Indicted For Extortion & Money Laundering

Meanwhile, the McCain campaign suffered another setback Friday with the indictment of Republican Congressman Rick Renzi of Arizona. Renzi is co-chair of Senator McCain’s campaign in Arizona. He faces charges of extortion, money laundering and wire fraud. Justice Dept to Investigate 2002 Rulings on Waterboarding The Justice Department has revealed its internal ethics office is investigating the department’s decision to give the CIA legal approval to waterboard prisoners. Beginning in 2002 Justice Department attorneys issued a series of rulings authorizing the use of the interrogation practice that is widely considered a form of torture. One of the Justice Department documents declared that interrogation methods were not torture unless they produced pain equivalent to that produced by organ failure or death.

Oh, boy: McCain could be in serious trouble.