Interest in the story was rekindled by the recent release of a story by the New York Times reopening the case.

An attractive middle aged lobbyist was seen frequently in the company of John McCain at fund-raisers, in his offices and aboard the corporate jet of one of her clients, raising speculation that a romantic relationship existed at the time between the Republican candidate and the lobbyist.

According to the New York Times, McCain's campaign staffers, speaking on the condition of anonymity, began worrying that a romantic relationship was developing between their boss and the attractive lobbyist. The Times reports that top advisers to McCain then intervened to "protect the candidate from himself," by giving orders to block Iseman's access and warning her to stay away from the Senator.

When the media reported that the Senator had written letters to government regulatory agencies on behalf of some of Ms Iseman's clients some aids were afraid that news of the affair would leak out.

Both Senator McCain, 71, and Vicki Iseman, 40, deny that they ever had a romantic relationship.

More information as the story develops