The super-moneyed global kleptocratic elite pays sums like this as casually as I decide to tip a waitress $10 instead of $5. Our parliament are nearly all whores.
If you know EVERYTHING about anybody, something out of their past will allow you to change their opinion on ANYTHING.
Worse, we have the "best" spy networks in the world which has demonstrated repeatedly that "mere mortals" have strangely and completely changed their positions overnight.
See John Roberts, SCOTUS, for reference.