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Attorney General
Supports Poochigian’s Request for
Review of First 5 Commission’s Use of Taxpayer Funds
Citing Conflict,
Lockyer Refers Investigation to
Sacramento County District Attorney
“Attorney General Bill Lockyer has acknowledged that
allegations that the First 5 Commission may have
misused taxpayer funds in connection with campaign
advertising for Proposition 82 warrant a prompt
review. Although the Attorney General’s office has
investigated and prosecuted other state entities and
officers in the past, he has decided to refer this
case. I believe that Sacramento County District
Attorney Jan Scully will fully investigate the
matter and, if warranted, prosecute any civil or
criminal charges."
- Senator Chuck
Poochigian
In a letter
Attorney General Bill Lockyer stated his support for
Senator Chuck Poochigian’s (R-Fresno)
request for an investigation into whether
taxpayer funds were illegally used by the First 5
Commission for campaign advertising, and called for
a prompt review. Citing a pre-existing
attorney-client relationship with the First 5
Commission and a potential conflict of interest the
Attorney General referred the request for a civil
and criminal investigation to Sacramento County
District Attorney Jan Scully’s office, which has
concurrent enforcement authority.
Poochigian is
specifically seeking an investigation into whether
the First 5 Commission illegally used taxpayer funds
to gather signatures and influence voters to support
Proposition 82, the “Preschool for All” campaign.
"If it is found
that a state appointee unlawfully used public
resources for campaign activity, he or she could be
held personally liable. If the First 5 Commission’s
actions were found to be unlawful, those directing
funds could be liable for civil penalties in excess
of $69 million dollars for the ‘Preschool for All’
television ad campaign, as well as potential
criminal penalties. However, the potential cost to
our election process and damage to the public trust
would be far greater," said Senator Poochigian.
"Given the short timeframe, I hope that this
investigation and the decision whether or not to
seek damages or injunctive relief, if appropriate,
will be expedited so that the public is afforded the
greatest protection."
The district
attorney’s investigation into misuse of taxpayer
funds by the First 5 Commission is part of an
ongoing effort to determine whether public resources
were used to influence the campaign for Proposition
82. Senator Poochigian is Vice-Chair of the Joint
Legislative Audit Committee, which will be reviewing
calls for an audit of the matter on Wednesday, March
8.
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