Bermuda's US Consul General Bob Farmer was yesterday at the centre of a political storm in America over a Senator's use of Mr. Farmer's Washington home rent-free in the 1980s.

Boston Democrat John F. Kerry has been slammed for accepting hospitality from Mr. Farmer, then vice-president of a powerful Washington political lobbying firm and two other wealthy businessmen.

Sen. Kerry stayed at Mr. Farmer's apartment in the posh Georgetown area of Washington after going through a divorce which left him without a permanent address.

The Senator admitted living from time to time at the $8000-a-month apartment leased by Mr. Farmer, a long-standing friend, over a period of two to three months in 1989.

The news was reported in a recent front-page article in the Boston Globe and quoted Charles Lewis of the Center for Public Integrity.

And Governor William F. Weld, a Republican currently challenging Sen. Kerry for his Senate seat, said he would be asking for a probe by US Attorney for Massachusetts and the Senate Ethic Committee.

But the Globe admitted their review of Sen. Kerry's finances found "no evidence'' Sen. Kerry ever took any official act to benefit Farmer'' or the two other wealthy owners of Boston condominiums used by him.

And Mr. Farmer said yesterday: "The whole thing is outrageous -- it's all politics.

"Senator Kerry, when he was between apartments, stayed in my guest bedroom for a few nights over a period of several months.

"I am not in the habit of charging people for staying in my guest bedroom and that's all I am prepared to say.'' In an interview with the Boston Globe, Mr. Farmer added that Sen. Kerry spent one or two nights a week at his apartment between February and March or April in 1989. And Mr. Farmer insisted neither he or Sen. Kerry considered the arrangement presented any ethical problems.

Sen. Kerry told the Boston newspaper, because the two were friends, he did not have to report the free lodging under a "personal hospitality'' exclusion to the Senate reporting requirements.

Normally, US Senators are required to report any personal gifts worth more than $250 and they are banned from accepting gifts worth more than $100 from anyone with a "direct interest'' in legislation.

Mr. Farmer said that Sen. Kerry called him and asked him if he could put him up shortly after the now-US Consul General moved to Washington and joined Cassidy & Associates, one of Washington's most successful lobbying firms.

But Sen. Kerry added that Mr. Farmer never lobbied him on any legislation while he was his guest and was not himself a registered lobbyist.

And he did not recall attending any dinners or receptions hosted by Mr. Farmer for businessmen and members of Congress while living at his home.

But Mr. Lewis told the Globe: "Whether it's one night or 15 nights is not significant. What's significant is the relationship, the fact that this Senator has relationships with wealthy individuals that have, or potentially have, important business before the government.

"There is an appearance issue here -- we don't know what Farmer and Cassidy might have wanted, but this is one of the most aggressive, high-profile lobbying firms in Washington. At the very least he should have disclosed it.''