A Hollywood producer has been charged after allegedly taking $5.5m (£3.3m) from investors for a TV drama he said was backed by US President George Bush.

The US attorney’s office alleges Joseph Medawar, 43, collected money from investors for two years but spent the majority of it on himself.

It said Mr Medawar had falsely claimed the White House had endorsed the proposed series, called DHS.

More than 70 investors, including churches, had invested money in the series on the basis that DHS – Department of Homeland Security – had been personally approved by Mr Bush…