GOP Fires Aide Who Admitted Extortion

A top Republican aide fell victim Friday to a continuing federal investigation of Capitol corruption when GOP leaders fired her, three days after she admitted extorting $12,500 for her bosses.

Karin Watson, 42, a former fund-raiser who had been restricted to a research role in recent months, was fired by Assembly Republican Leader Ross Johnson of La Habra on Friday morning.

“I have indicated to her that we are terminating her employment,” Johnson said in an interview after meeting briefly with Watson. He declined to discuss the matter further.

Assemblyman Tom Bane (D-Tarzana), chairman of the Assembly Rules Committee, which oversees all staff for the lower house, said he expected to ratify Johnson’s decision without requiring a vote of the committee.

“We have never overruled a member,” Bane said.

Johnson said Watson, who was paid more than $58,000 a year, still has several unused vacation days on the books and her firing will not become effective until those days have run out.

Watson’s attorney, Clyde M. Blackmon, said his client would not comment to the press.

Watson pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony extortion charge for her part in coercing undercover FBI agents posing as businessmen to pay campaign contributions and appearance fees, or honorariums, to two ranking GOP lawmakers.

She also agreed to cooperate with federal authorities as they continue to investigate former Assembly Republican Leader Pat Nolan of Glendale and Assemblyman Frank Hill (R-Whittier), who was one of Nolan’s chief lieutenants until Nolan resigned his leadership post in November, 1988.

According to federal court documents, Watson was caught up in the FBI sting operation in 1988 when she told a fellow legislative staffer who was working as a federal informant that it would take roughly $10,000 to secure her bosses’ support for a bill the informant was promoting.

Later, she helped arrange and attended meetings between undercover agents and two lawmakers, who are not identified in the court documents.