Via UPI, h/t to TPM
Stephen Payne, a major GOP fundraiser and international affairs lobbyist, also touted his success in getting an Uzbek opposition leader removed from the U.S. terrorist watch list and issued a U.S. visa.
In light of the news that the terrorist watch list surpassed one million records and 700,000 names, the Stephen Payne story raises several questions:
- Who authorized this scheme?
- Is the Bush Administration accepting payment from any individual, foreign or national, to be removed from the terrorist watch list?
- What is the minimum
bribe donation required to get the name off the terrorist watch list?
- Is the Bush Administration adding foreign names to the terrorist watch list with the express intent of seeking payment to have those names removed?
- How does Stephen Payne know the names on the list? What security clearances does he possess? Who granted these clearances? In light of the videotape, have his clearances been pulled?
- Who watches the Bush Library account?
- Who is alerted when the
bribe donation is received?
- Once the
bribe donation is received by the Bush Library, who makes the call to Homeland Security? Who receives the call at Homeland Security?
- Where else has Payne traveled recently? Is there a trail of foreign names that have been removed from the terrorist watch list that matches his travel itinerary?
- Are blackmailing/racketeering laws applicable?