Longtime Democratic Campaign Treasurer Charged with Fraud

Getty Images
Ted Mann 2,132 Views Sep 4, 2011

The treasurer for hundreds of Democratic campaign committees in California, including those of Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Loretta Sanchez, was arrested Friday and charged with mail fraud related to her work in a legislative race, local news outlets said.

Kinde Durkee was arrested at the offices of her firm, Durkee & Associates, the Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register reported, and will appear in court on Tuesday.

The indictment "focuses on transactions involving the account of a single member of the Assembly, but our investigation is continuing," a spokeswoman for prosecutors told the Times. The state didn't identify the campaign allegedly victimized in the fraud, but the Times says state Sen. Lou Correa of Santa Ana was told by the FBI Friday night that his campaign fund "might have been the victim of embezzlement of a 'substantial amount' of funds, possibly in the hundreds of thousands of dollars."

Correa said the phone call Friday was his first indication that there were any potential issues with Durkee, whose services he has used for more than 15 years. “At first I thought it was some kind of sick joke,” he said.

Durkee has worked for Democratic campaigns in the state since 1972, Roll Call reported.

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.

Topics:
Related Articles   More by Ted Mann

Believe It or Not, Biden Was Right

Michael Moore 'Sick of' Democrats

Left Furious with Obama Over Tax Cuts: Trouble Ahead?

 

Why the iPhone Isn't Building a New U.S. Middle Class

Mitt Romney Will Release His Tax Returns After All

Elsewhere on the Web

User Comments

Please type your comment and click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be prompted to log in or register

  • The Atlantic Wire on Twitter
  • The Atlantic Wire RSS Feed
  • The Atlantic Wire iPhone App