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News
City Prosecutor Reeves Asks D.A. To Handle Investigation of Alleged Campaign Violations by CA Citizens for Neighborhood Empowerment
Makes referral to avoid any appearance of impropriety
(April 18, 2002) --
We post below salient portions of a written statement released April 17 by the office of LB City Prosecutor Tom Reeves. [Bracketed material by LBReport.com]:
On April 16, 2002, Long Beach City Prosecutor Tom Reeves asked the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office to investigate alleged campaign violations. The alleged violations arise from contributions received by California Citizens for Neighborhood Empowerment (CCNE) and from questions regarding connections between this group and a candidate for Mayor. [CCNE filing indicates it is an independent group that supports Dan Baker for Mayor] Reeves asked the District Attorney to assume responsibility for the investigation to avoid any appearance of impropriety by his office. ...
The press has reported that CCNE supported candidates that used the political consulting services of Mike Orlito. "In my recent re-election campaign, I used the well known consultant Mike Orlito to help me with fundraising. Furthermore, although she was not involved in my campaign in any way, I paid Kinde Durkee [Burbank based firm, listed as CCNE treasurer, and separately as Baker campaign treasurer, and as treasurer for numerous other CA campaigns] to fill out some campaign forms," said City Prosecutor Tom Reeves.
"Therefore, in order to avoid any appearance of impropriety, yesterday I spoke with the District Attorney's office and request that it take responsibility for the criminal investigation of this matter."
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