Thread by @Greg_Palast

Now we have proof of the #OctoberSurprise. The NY Times got the story from former Lieutenant Governor of Texas, Ben Barnes. But they never asked why he's been silent for decades. It might have to do with a payment of $23 million... gregpalast.com/reagans-treaso…

In 1999 I uncovered a DOJ doc saying that Barnes was the fixer who arranged for George W. Bush to avoid the Vietnam draft by joining the elite Texas Air Guard as a fighter pilot, the only person to have been allowed that post without flying experience. gregpalast.com/still-unreport…

Barnes’ personal knowledge of W’s draft-dodging, had the political career of then Gov. George W. Bush by the cojones.

Barnes, by then out of politics, became a lobbyist for GTech, the Texas State lottery operator. GTech was about to lose its multi-billion dollar contract because of charges of corruption...

But then, Gov. Bush authorized the firing of the lottery director, burial of the winning results of the bid for the lottery, and GTech became the soul exclusive lottery operator without bidding. For his assistance, Barnes received a $23 million payday.

With the latest revelations, we know that Barnes also had Bush Sr.’s cojones in his other pocket.

gregpalast.com/reagans-treaso…

#BenBarnes is not a hero, he’s a criminal, who hid treason against America, whose silence allowed the fraudulent election of two Bushes as president, a silence that certainly was lucrative.

Most important, this should put an end to the new revisionism that rebrands Bush Senior and Junior as a reasonable gentleman. Like Reagan, they are con men, cowards, and killers, who stained America’s highest office.

The full story of the Bush payoff can be found in the BBC Television film, Bush Family Fortunes, which is available as a FREE download. gregpalast.com/bush-family-fo…