Did McCain Involvement in Ft. Ord Real Estate Deal Cost Taxpayers Several Hundred Million Dollars?

Even though independent appraisers provided current fair market estimates in the millions, the U.S. Army declared the public property known as Fort Ord to hold a long term 40 year value of only $21,000,000 and offered this public property for sale at less than $300,000 before lowering the price to $250,000 for their prospective buyer, Donald R. Diamond.  In 2001, two years after his purchase, Mr. Diamond sold the former U.S. military post, located near the beach in Monterey Bay, California, for more than 18 million dollars.  Property evaluations of Ft. Ord now show the long term value of this former public property to be worth at least several hundred million dollars.   Senator John McCain played an active role in this entire transaction.

"Besides being a leading developer in McCain's home state, he is a pro-Israel lobbyist in Washington, D.C., and is among the elite "innovators" group whose members have individually raised $500,000 or more for McCain's presidential bid, according to the candidate's campaign Web site.  Diamond also served as national finance co-chairman for McCain's presidential exploratory committee, and in court documents he describes himself as a longtime friend of the Republican senator."

Julia Reynolds, in her October 12th article, further explains the evaluation details and John McCain's involvement in these events which were recently brought to light through a request for appraisal documents under the Freedom of Information Act. 

 http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10703310?source=most_emailed

Ms. Reynolds also reports that both Donald Diamond and Senator McCain's Senate office "decline" to comment.

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