In wake of Durkee case, ethics agency proposes training to prevent fraud
The head of the state’s ethics agency Friday proposed new measures to prevent fraud in the handling of political funds in response to a federal investigation of Kinde Durkee, who is suspected of embezzling from campaign accounts she controlled.
In addition, Fair Political Practices Commission Chairwoman Ann Ravel said politicians affected by the investigation would receive some leeway in meeting financial reporting requirements. Attorneys for politicians told Ravel at a hearing near the Capitol on Friday that financial records needed to make those reports have been withheld by banks, and they expressed concern that other needed documents possessed by Durkee have been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury.
Durkee was arrested Sept. 2 and is accused of taking $677,181 from the campaign of Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Santa Ana).
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-- Abby Sewell, Los Angeles Times