An embarrassing tale of money, politics and sex
The motorcade of President George W. Bush curled through the lush streets of Bel-Air one night in October 2006 and slowed to a stop at the Colonial Revival mansion of Elliott Broidy.
It was a big moment for Broidy, certifying his arrival in the upper tier of Los Angeles wealth and power. He'd summoned 250 blue-chip donors to hear Bush speak on the lawn, then gather on the tennis court for dinner. The banquet yielded $1 million for the Republican National Committee.
Broidy was founder and chairman of Markstone Capital Partners, a private equity fund. The firm, it turned out, was built on a foundation of corruption. Broidy got caught in 2009 paying kickbacks and pleaded guilty.
He avoided prison, but was fined $18 million. He stepped down from Markstone. He and his
