Tougher fraud rules proposed in response to Durkee probe
The head of the state’s ethics agency Friday proposed additional action to prevent fraud in the handling of political funds in response to a federal investigation into embezzlement allegations against campaign treasurer Kinde Durkee.
The Fair Political Practices Commission will also give those candidates affected some leeway in meeting financial reporting requirements after attorneys for some politicians said Friday that their records have been withheld by banks and expressed concern that other needed documents possessed by Durkee have been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury.
The treasurer was arrested Sept. 2 and is accused of taking $677,181 from the campaign of Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Santa Ana). Investigators are also looking at her handling of other campaign accounts. Durkee was treasurer for some 400 committees, including those of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and state Sen. Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana).
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-- Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times