On November 3, 2006, Paris Hilton's grandfather, W. Barron Hilton, gave Arnold Schwarzenegger $22,300.  This was just days before the election and at a point when it was clear that Schwarzenegger would win. Barron Hilton does not appear to be a major donor to other state or federal candidates.  (He gave just $1000 to Dennis Hastert in the 06 cycle and nothing to other federal politicians.)

UPDATE (5/10/07): William Barron Hilton also appears to have given Schwarzenegger another $22,300 on May 9, 2006.  This was not listed on his major donor report, but is reported by the Schwarzenegger campaign here.  That makes $44,600 (the legal limit) that Barron gave Arnold in 2006.  But wait, there's more.  On March 17, 2005 Barron Hilton gave Arnold $20,000 for his California Recovery Team -- a ballot committee Arnold set up for his 2005 special election agenda.  He kicked in another $21,000 on October 21, 2005 . And, on September 22, 2005 Hilton Hotels gave $10,000 to the same committee.  So, make that $95,600 from Barron Hilton and his hotel company to Arnold from 2005-2006.  (The New York Daily News is reporting $59,600 here .) This would suggest that Barron Hilton is a more regular contributor than we first thought.

Paris is now asking Schwarzenegger to pardon her from serving 45 days in prison after violating her probation on a drunk driving charge.  

Pardons became a concern in the final days of President Bill Clinton's administration.   President Clinton pardoned Almon Glenn Braswell after Braswell and his associate Carlos Vignali each paid Hillary Clinton's brother, Hugh Rodham, $200,000 to represent them.  Rodham eventually returned these payments. 

So, the question is, will Schwarzenegger move to avoid any appearance of impropriety by returning Barron Hilton's money?  Barron has clearly done nothing wrong, yet he clearly has an interest in a very specific decision that Schwarzenegger faces.  The donation could cause many people to wonder if Schwarzenegger will consider this situation solely on its merits.

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Purchase author-signed copies of this book from the Poplar Institute here.  You may also purchase it at Amazon.com here (Recall's Broken Promise at Amazon), Barnes & Noble , or order it from your local bookstore.

Fed up with business as usual, Californians recalled Governor Gray Davis in 2003 and replaced him with a celebrity who pledged to clean up government. The Recall’s Broken Promise details how Arnold Schwarzenegger then shattered political fundraising records, attacked campaign finance restrictions, blurred ethical boundaries, and how politicians of both parties have killed needed reforms.

Table of Contents

Introduction (10 pages)

About the Author 

Read author interviews in the Sacramento News and Review here and Capitol Weekly here . 

What others are saying about The Recall's Broken Promise:

“No wonder Arnold spent all those years in the gym—he knew there’d come a time when he’d be lifting all that special interest money in Sacramento! This book lifts the rug in the governor’s office to show that Big Money still rules in California
politics.” 

– Jim Hightower, author, radio commentator, and publisher of The Hightower Lowdown

 “The price of power is highest in California, site of the most expensive elections in the nation, where powerful interests have had a stranglehold for decades. So when a
former bodybuilder and actor celebrity publicly promised not to become entangled with those special interests, it frankly had a hollow ring. And sure enough, in his first term as governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger was no Terminator when it comes to smarmy insiderism and big money politics as usual. These issues are historic and
systemic, as campaign finance expert and nonpartisan reformer Derek Cressman explains in this important book, and he has informed, thoughtful ideas about how citizens can help tame the beast of corruption.”

– Chuck Lewis, Founder of the Center for Public Integrity

“A no-holds barred exposé of how powerful interests use campaign contributions, lavish gifts from lobbyists, and outright deception to take over the government of the world’s sixth largest economy. Cressman also points readers to the tools they need to start taking back our government.”

– Peter Coyote, actor/author

“Insightful, well-researched work. This book illuminates the sordid history of
campaign finance and the politics of ballot measures. It is a comprehensive look at the role of campaign dollars in California initiative and recall politics. A must read for both concerned citizens and students of direct democracy alike.”

– David McCuan, Professor of Political Science, Sonoma State University
 
"A bitingly insightful look at the corruption weakening California's governmental system, and the reforms that are needed immediately."

– The Midwest Book Review