The Defense Attorney Aided Nolan, Now Nolan Aids the Attorney

After getting nabbed in an FBI sting operation, pleading guilty to racketeering and serving time in prison, former Glendale assemblyman Pat Nolan might be expected to steer clear of the law.

Instead, he is immersed in it every day--and gets paid for it.

Nolan, who recently moved from prison to a Sacramento halfway house, is working full-time for the lawyer who handled his criminal case, Malcolm Segal.

“He’s doing research and consultation for me,” Segal said. “It was an opportunity to make some use of his talents.”

Segal says Nolan shows up every day in coat and tie, then returns to the halfway house at night. He’s expected to be there until August, before being released to rejoin his wife and children, who live in the Sacramento area.

Nolan, who is earning a “modest income” as a legal researcher, used to be a licensed attorney but surrendered his state bar card after his indictment on racketeering, conspiracy, extortion and money laundering. He pleaded guilty to a single charge of accepting a bribe.

Prosecution Complex

Maybe Brad Sherman ought to hire Kato Kaelin.

After all, Sherman’s rival in the 24th Congressional District race, Rich Sybert, already has a colorful ex-star witness on staff.

Working as Sybert’s scheduler is Craig Cignarelli, who twice testified against his former best friend, Erik Menendez.

When brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez were on trial for murdering their parents, Cignarelli testified that Erik confessed details of the crime to him days after it occurred. Lyle directed Erik to “shoot Mom,” Cignarelli said on the stand.

Cignarelli also cooperated with the police in an attempt to nail Erik. He wore a wire to a meeting with Erik at Gladstone’s in Malibu, but Erik did not admit anything there. Later, Cignarelli became angry at Beverly Hills homicide detectives for notifying his mother that he was working with them. He sent them a fax saying: “Betrayal signifies evil.”

The defense tore at Cignarelli during the trial, accusing him of lying for a moment in the limelight. They noted that he sold his story to “Hard Copy” for $25,000. They also mentioned his political ambitions, suggesting that he gave some of the TV money to charity to boost his political career.

With the Menendez brothers now behind bars for life, Cignarelli’s political career these days is spent working on Sybert’s schedule and helping him with grass-roots organizing in his bid to replace retiring Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills).

“We are extremely pleased with his work,” said Sybert campaign manager John Theiss, who admitted that he missed Cignarelli’s dramatic appearances on the stand. “He’s had his whole life put on hold because of those trials.”

Split Decision

Did state Sen. Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles) lose his chance to torpedo the San Fernando Valley secession bill this week?

Maybe not.

It’s true that Polanco, no fan of the legislation, lost the first round when he couldn’t get the bill routed through his Elections and Reapportionment Committee. That left the bill’s author, Assemblywoman Paula Boland (R-Granada Hills) feeling like she dodged a bullet that was aimed squarely at killing her measure to make it easier for the Valley to divorce Los Angeles.

But she shouldn’t put away the flak jacket just yet. The Senate Rules Committee agreed that Boland’s bill will pass through it once again before it hits the Senate floor.

That’s when Polanco is expected to again get a crack at what he considers loathsome legislation.

A Polanco letter sets out what could be a key line of attack on the bill--that it may run afoul of the federal Voting Rights Act by preventing the whole of Los Angeles from voting on secession.

City Controller Rick Tuttle and Chief Legislative Analyst Ron Deaton were lobbying against the bill in Sacramento Wednesday on grounds that it disenfranchises millions of Los Angeles voters on an issue that affects their lives.

Trade Disagreements

Millie Rose wants her money back. The West Hills businesswoman has been forced to pay thousands of dollars in tariffs on the handcrafted boxes she imports from Poland for local stores because Congress has yet to reauthorize a major trade agreement.

And Rose is not alone. The delay is causing financial strain for thousands of importers nationwide.

The General System of Preferences (GSP) is a trade benefit granted by the United States that waives tariffs for developing countries, making their products more attractive here.

It now applies to roughly 140 countries across the world, from Malaysia to Mauritania.

The United States gives GSP benefits to countries that fall below certain financial thresholds--such as a per-capita income of $11,831--and agree to meet a host of standards on workers’ rights, environmental protection and other issues.

But waiving all those tariffs costs the United States about $600 million a year, which must be offset in other parts of the budget. The preferences expired July 31 of last year, forcing importers such as Rose to pay extra for products they used to bring into the country tariff-free.

Delayed by all the wrangling over the budget, Congress is moving toward resolving the trade issue slowly. The Senate Finance Committee approved a proposal earlier this month, sending the matter to the full Senate. The House approved a proposal last December, but it was included in the budget reconciliation legislation that President Clinton vetoed.

The good news for importers is that they are likely to get their money back. Congress is prepared to reimburse any tariffs that were paid during the delay. But importers are still frustrated by the long wait.

“I would like them to give me back my money,” Rose said. “It becomes a hardship. This is not the sort of thing a small business can easily absorb.”

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Quotable: “It’s time for us to cut the crap and be honest with each other and candid with our voters.”

Valley-based City Councilman Mike Feuer, during city budget debates

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Hill-Holtzman and Martin reported from Los Angeles, Lacey from Washington, D.C.