When I took my CFI checkride with Puehler he was an ASI for the FAA, not a DPE. At the time, only the FAA was allowed to do CFI checkrides, DPE's could not. I'm pretty annoyed about having to do another checkride after earning my CFII and Gold Seal.

Myself, and everyone I've talked to that's known Puehler highly doubts he ever collected a fee or took a bribe. That is completely out of his character, I don't know where that rumor started but I highly doubt that it's accurate.