Foreign donations suspended, Bush library says

Faced Monday with a report that a rogue lobbyist urged an exiled Central Asian leader to support the Bush library to curry favor in Washington, library officials promised that no foreign money will be accepted until President Bush leaves office. On Tuesday, it became clear the public will have to take them at their word.

The foundation isn’t promising to identify all donors, or the dates and sums of their gifts.

“Current law only requires annual disclosure of the total sum raised,” said Dan Bartlett, the former White House counselor, speaking for the foundation that will build the Bush library and research center at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. “We’re working through all our decisions but … at a minimum, we are not going to be accepting donations from non-U.S. residents before he’s out of office.”