COMPTON : Tucker Seeks Donations to Legal Defense Fund
Rep. Walter R. Tucker III (D-Compton) is asking the public to help pay for his legal fight against federal allegations of extortion and tax evasion.
“It is my obligation to myself, to my family and to my constituents to defend myself against these false charges,” Tucker said. “To do so, I would not be at all surprised if my legal bills approach $250,000.”
Tucker got approval from the U.S. House Ethics Committee to create the Walter Tucker III Legal Defense Fund, which is headed by longtime Tucker family friend Mattie Taylor. Tucker, 37, pleaded not guilty Aug. 22 to 10 counts of tax evasion and extortion while mayor of Compton. The trial is scheduled for February.
Prosecutors allege that Tucker received $30,000 in bribes from a company that wanted to build a waste-to-energy plant, and he later demanded another $250,000.
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