D.A. Suspends Two Investigators

Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas on Friday suspended two investigators he has accused of stealing evidence in an extortion case involving his friend, as the attorney general’s office was asked to launch yet another probe into the controversial case.

Rackauckas’ spokeswoman, Tori Richards, said the investigators were placed on paid leave indefinitely, but she declined to give a reason.

The two officials could not be reached for comment Friday.

The furor centers around Newport Beach businessman Patrick DiCarlo, who in April came to Rackauckas to say he was being extorted by possible Mafia figures.

The district attorney pulled two investigators off the case weeks later, saying they were treating his friend more like a crime suspect than a victim.

Later, the district attorney accused the two investigators of stealing evidence related to the DiCarlo case and giving it to outsiders, allegations that the state attorney general is now reviewing.

Some in the district attorney’s office have complained that Rackauckas had abused his authority to help a friend.

To avoid any appearance of impropriety, Rackauckas announced on Thursday that he was stepping aside and would invite the state attorney general to weigh any possible criminal charges stemming from the alleged misuse of evidence.

On Friday, a deputy district attorney who asked not to be named said he asked state Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer to look into whether Rackauckas obstructed justice by pulling the investigators off the case.

The prosecutor also wants Lockyer to determine whether Rackauckas violated any laws last year when he asked investigators to use sensitive criminal databases to run background checks on candidates for a nonprofit charity.

Rackauckas has denied any wrongdoing and said Friday he supports any independent review of his actions.

“We welcome the attorney general to look at anything else in this office because we have nothing to hide,” Richards said.

A spokesman for Lockyer declined Friday to comment on the requested investigation.

The two veteran investigators suspended Friday will continue to receive their salaries, Richards said.

“That is county policy to put employees on paid leave rather than unpaid while they are under investigation,” Richards said.