Just hours after then-Sen. Evan Bayh (D., Ind.) voted to authorize President Bush's decision to go to war with Iraq, he boarded a first-class flight to California to stay at the Beverly Hills mansion of billionaire Ron Burkle and attend numerous fundraising meetings, according to a copy of Bayh's official schedule.
The Senate's authorization of force vote did not occur until early in the morning on Friday, Oct. 11, 2002, after the House of Representatives approved the legislation on Thursday afternoon. Bayh voted for the war although his schedule said he was "out of town" for the day.
Bayh's schedule shows that he arrived in California by 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 11, in time to attend a fundraising dinner in Pasadena before traveling to Burkle's Beverly Hills mansion.
Burkle, a Democratic fundraiser, is perhaps best known for his friendship with former President Bill Clinton as well as his private jet, which was referred to in private as "Air F—k One," according to Vanity Fair.
His mansion, known as "Green Acres," has become a known destination for Democratic fundraising operations. The Los Angeles Times wrote that Burkle's "Green Acres estate in Beverly Hills is to contemporary political fundraising what Versailles was to European royalty."
Bayh's schedule for the weekend included brunch and tennis at the Riviera Country Club, speaking events at large fundraisers, and private meals with prominent Democratic fundraisers such as Steve Bing and Mike Medavoy.
Donation records show that Bayh brought in nearly $40,000 in political donations in the month of October, many from donors he was scheduled to meet with in California.
Bayh was the target of criticism last month after Buzzfeed reported that he missed crucial Senate hearings on the morning that U.S. troops began the invasion of Iraq.
Bayh left D.C. for Vail, Colorado, to attend fundraisers during the hearing.
The Bayh campaign did not return a request for comment.