McCain rejects claim of improper relationship with a Senate lobbyist

Published on Thursday 21 February 2008 20:58

JOHN McCain, the Republican front-runner, yesterday denied allegations of improper relations with a woman lobbyist.

In a story that quickly topped the election agenda in the United States, the New York Times alleged that, eight years ago, his staff had worried about his closeness to the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman.

So worried had staff been that an affair might blossom that one adviser, John Weaver, had met Ms Iseman at a railway station to warn her off.

But Mr McCain, speaking to the media flanked by his wife Cindy, issued a curt "no" when asked if he had had a romantic relationship with Ms Iseman. "I'm very disappointed in the article," he said. "It's not true."

Mr McCain described Ms Iseman as a "friend" whom he has seen on various occasions in Washington, including fundraisers and receptions, and denied having a romantic relationship with her. "I have many friends in Washington that represent various interests," he said. "I consider her a friend."

He said he last saw her several months ago at "some event".

"People who represent interests are fine, that's their constitutional right. The question is whether they have excess or unwarranted influence. Certainly, no-one ever has in the conduct of my public life and in conduct of my legislative agenda."

And the New York Times found itself under fire for the story after refusing to name its sources.

The Times, and a similar report in the Washington Post, alleges that, when Mr McCain worked for the Senate telecommunications commission, he had frequent meetings with Ms Iseman, who lobbied for leading phone companies.

Mr McCain yesterday denied improper influence and insisted: "At no time have I ever betrayed the public trust."

Cindy McCain said she was "very disappointed" in the New York Times, adding: "He is a man of great character."

Mr McCain's campaign staff went further, accusing the newspaper of liberal bias in favour of the Democrats. "It is a shame that the New York Times has lowered its standards to engage in a hit-and-run smear campaign," said Jill Hazelbaker, Mr McCain's communications director.

The New York Times said it had done nothing wrong. "We think the story speaks for itself," said Bill Keller, its executive editor.

In February 1999, the report said, Mr McCain accepted Ms Iseman's invitation to take a private jet to Miami for a fundraising dinner with a cruise-line executive.

The Washington Post said that Mr McCain's insistence on honesty makes him fair game for such a story. "It's fair for journalists to hold him to a higher standard because he holds himself to a higher standard," said Howard Kurtz, a Post columnist.