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McCains Get Free Cell Towers at Ranch

Ethics lawyers cite his Senate post overseeing telecom industry

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 16, 2008 12:01 AM CDT

(Newser) – Verizon and AT&T provided portable cell phone towers to John McCain's Arizona ranch free of charge soon after he launched his presidential bid, the Washington Post reports. The companies say it's a unique situation—a modern candidate has to be plugged in, after all—but ethics lawyers say it's questionable because McCain is chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees the FCC and the telecom industry.

"It raises the aura of special consideration for somebody because he is a member of the Senate," said an ethics attorney who represents politicians of both parties. "Here is a guy who is campaigning as Mr. Maverick and Mr. Reformer and he keeps skirting the edge." Verizon also took up an expensive process on the McCains' behalf to look into a permanent tower, a plan that has since been scrapped. The McCain camp, which includes several people who have worked as lobbyists for the telecom companies, says no favoritism was involved.

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Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., talks on a cell phone as he boards his charter campaign jet before departing Cincinnati, Ohio, Friday, June 27, 2008. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks to reporters after a tour of the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Plant Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008, in Newport, Mich. (AP Photo)

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Just because she is married to a senator doesn't mean she forfeits her right to ask for cell service as any other Verizon customer can. - Brian Rogers, McCain campaign spokesman, on Cindy's request of Verizon

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McCains Get Free Cell Towers at Ranch