Posted on 05/02/2002 8:53:04 PM PDT by nimc
CHP Undertakes Investigation
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Reports of document shredding at the California Department of Information Technology prompted a California Highway Patrol investigation and the seizure of a large trash receptacle by Department of Justice agents, adding new intrigue to a growing Capitol scandal over a software contract with the Oracle Corp.
The growing scandal prompted Republican calls for the U.S. Attorney's Office to step in. They want an investigation into a six-year, $95 million software contract with Oracle. A state auditor said that the contract could cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
Republicans turned up the heat, accusing Gov. Gray Davis of stonewalling the investigation that could prove embarrassing to his administration.
"Any attempt to hide the truth about the details of this ongoing scandal are simply unacceptable. It's obvious that political forces would rather see this matter swept under the rug," Assembly Republican Leader Dave Cox said.
Cox based his accusations on remarks made by a key Democratic lawmaker to the San Jose Mercury News, saying Davis administration officials were pressuring him to back off on the Legislature's investigation. A member of the investigative panel echoed that account.
"The Joint Legislative Audit Committee, I know, is being pushed behind the scenes to not look into it," Sen. Ray Haynes, R-Riverside, said.
But on Thursday, the head of that committee, Dean Florez, would not confirm the statement, while acknowledging he's dealing with a very hot potato.
"Everywhere throughout the Capitol, I'm hearing people saying, 'go forward with the hearing.' I've heard people say, 'don't go forward with the hearing,'" Florez said.
The administration said that it wants to have a full and open investigation.
"I think the administration, thus far, has produced every single person the committee wants to produce and talk to," Florez said.
"There's been absolutely no attempt to stonewall, slow down. We are cooperating fully," Davis' spokesman Steve Maviglio, said.
Republicans also called on Attorney General Bill Lockyer to step aside from his investigation, suggesting that he has a conflict because of Oracle contributions. Nathan Barankan, a Lockyer spokesman, angrily denied that.
"There is no conflict of interest. All there is is the law. If Assemblyman Cox would like to try to insult the integrity of the 5,000 people who work at the Department of Justice, he's more than welcome to do that," Barankan said.
The scandal, which the state auditor says could cost taxpayers $41 million, has already claimed two jobs. Barry Keene resigned last week as head of General Services and Arun Baheti quit Thursday as the governor's director of E-Government.
Just take note of all the organizations and players who do NOT call for Davis to resign. Then replay this incident and their reactions (or lack thereof) to them the next time that there is a whiff of a potential Republican scandal, as those same non-players today will be screaming non-stop for a Republican to resign under far more benign scenarios...
Reports of document shredding at the California Department of Information Technology prompted a California Highway Patrol investigation and the seizure of a large trash receptacle by Department of Justice agents, adding new intrigue to a growing Capitol scandal over a software contract with the Oracle Corp.
Psssst...Look in Hilary's office!
Assemblyman Cox did not insult the integrity of the 5000. He did fairly point out that AJ Lockjaw received a butt-load of cash from Oracle and that maybe, just maybe, he ought to avoid the impropriety of looking like a typical corrupt politician.
Spokesmouth Barankan is just playing PR games which is all us little tax-payers can really expect anymore.
"I think the administration, thus far, has produced every single person the committee wants to produce and talk to," Florez said.
Interesting statements in light of this:
Officials in the governor's administration are pressuring the Legislature to cut short its investigation into who is responsible for a botched software deal with Oracle that could cost state taxpayers millions, the lawmaker leading the inquiry charged Wednesday. ``There's a lot of pressure to stop the music,'' said Assemblyman Dean Florez, a Bakersfield Democrat who heads the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. He said lawmakers and lobbyists are also urging him to end his probe, but he declined to name any of those he said are leaning on him.
Dean doesn't want to own up to what the Mercury News is reporting he said.
This whole thing is really starting to smell bad. Davis is nortoriously thin-skinned. It's not going to take much more in the middle of his campaign to get him to reach melt-down, I predict. He's already made some bizarre statements to the San Diego Union Tribune.
Uh...no, Mr. Barankan...he was insulting the integrity of Bill Lockyer.
We will put this on the list and ping some folks !
Even more delicious news here -- Davis in melt down!
calgov2002:
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HehHeh...LOL
Couldn't happen to a more deserving sc*mb*g.
I pray that you are wrong.
Pinging some other folks that might enjoy this!
Well Nathan, probably 5250 out of 5000 of those wonderful Dept. of Justice or better yet Dept of Kali Injustice, are all card carrying Rats, who vote in Rat lockstep, contribute in Rat Lockstep and wouldn't investigate a Rat regardless of the Crime that he committed. It is impossible to insult those who allowed the Rat criminals to destroy this state since Benito II Davis was sworn in.
Your clowns did not investigate the insider trading and the other crimes committed by Davis's pimps during our electrical crisis last year.
Your entire worthless staff just sits and waits for a republican to do something wrong or tries to screw MS in another way for making an honest buck.
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