Sep 6, 2008 2:59 pm US/Pacific
Padilla, Cardenas Reportedly Tied To Illegal Funds
LOS ANGELES
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Prosecutors and investigators have spent the last three months investigating the Citizens for Dependable and Reliable Leadership Committee, and have served search warrants at an accountant's office in Burbank.
AP
Two prominent politicians in the San Fernando Valley are being investigated by prosecutors for allegedly setting up an illegal political fundraising group, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site Saturday.
State Sen. Alex Padilla and Los Angeles City Council member Tony Cardenas are being examined by the Los Angeles County Attorney's office for possibly exceeding election spending limits by setting up an independent committee to raise and disburse funds for them, The Times reported.
Prosecutors and investigators have spent the last three months investigating the Citizens for Dependable and Reliable Leadership Committee, and have served search warrants at an accountant's office in Burbank.
The accountant, Kinde Durkee, serves as the committee's treasurer. She was not available for comment Saturday.
The committee has endorsed candidates in the City of San Fernando's 2005 election, and gave money to state Lt. Gov. John Garamendi's campaign in 2006.
State law prohibits elected officials from controlling independent expenditure committees, which are largely exempt from laws that limits political fundraising by candidates. The state laws, according to The Times, are somewhat vague as to what actually constitutes control, however.
Padilla's attorney, Stephan Kaufman, told the paper his client does not control the committee. Cardenas' lawyer, Fred Woocher, said the same thing, The Times reported.
"He (Cardenas) had no formal role in forming, controlling, deciding, spending -- anythong you would consider to be controlling that committee," Woocher told the paper.
The Times reported the investigation centers on Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes, a new assemblyman from Sylmar who had served as Padilla's chief of staff before winning office.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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