 The Ohio billionaire who escaped a drugs conviction in New Zealand has poured millions into John Kerry's presidential election campaign. Peter Lewis, also a multimillion-dollar backer of attempts to liberalise America's marijuana laws, spent eight months fighting the Herald's attempts to name him when he was caught importing drugs here during the America's Cup. Lewis was discharged without conviction, after customs officers found cannabis in his luggage at Auckland Airport, and on his luxury converted tug Lone Ranger. He escaped conviction after making a $53,000 donation to drug rehabilitation centre Odyssey House and had his name suppressed - a decision eventually overturned by the Court of Appeal. | Bought his way out jail, did he? |
The episode is widely reported in the US, and on internet sites detailing his involvement with Democratic-friendly political advocacy and advertising. | Not so widely that it doesn't bare repeating |
Although a law passed two years ago in the United States tried to tighten the regulation of political spending, it can be avoided. The Centre for Responsive Politics says Lewis has now spent US$14.43 million ($20 million) in "soft money" donations to special-interest groups backing John Kerry's bid to oust George Bush as President. |