Posted on 10/30/2007 7:07:46 AM PDT by Paleo Conservative
CORPUS CHRISTI — Mauricio Celis hasn't been charged with a crime, but South Texas Democrats he supported are feeling pressure to distance themselves from the man under investigation on allegations of impersonating a lawyer and a peace officer.Celis has donated more than $415,000 since 2002 to Democratic political campaigns -- including to a judge who issued a restraining order at his request on short notice, and the former Nueces County sheriff he now employs. Those numbers don't include more than $36,000 donated to candidates by Celis' firm, CGT Law Group International.
Three local state representatives last week donated to charity their unspent contributions from Celis.
Celis gave $50,000 to a political action committee set up by trial lawyer Mikal Watts, who until Tuesday was running for U.S. Senate. Celis also gave $50,000 in 2003 to the Save Texas Courts committee, a group largely of trial lawyers that formed to fight medical malpractice caps.
With donations of $160,000 in the 2004 election cycle, Celis ranked No. 51 among Texas donors to statewide campaigns and committees, tracked by the nonprofit group Texans for Public Justice. Celis didn't rank in the 2006 cycle because his contributions fell below $150,000.
The Texas Attorney General sued Celis in Austin Wednesday, claiming that he illegally operated a law firm as a non-lawyer. He is under criminal investigation in Nueces County, accused of holding himself out as a lawyer, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in jail and a fine of as much as $10,000; and impersonating a peace officer, a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of as much as $2,000 and 180 days in jail.
CGT Law Group originally employed two lawyers but gave Celis control of net profits and decision-making authority on all cases the firm took.
Many of the campaign finance filings list him as an attorney, though in some he is listed as a partner or investor in the law firm.
Trial lawyers have long done the heavy lifting of Democratic fundraising, according to Cal Jillson, a professor of political science at Southern Methodist University.
"The Democratic Party generally sees themselves as standing for the little guy," Jillson said, "and are typically seen as defending the little guy against business, industry or negligence. I think for Republicans, trial lawyers are a group that affect the economy in a direct and negative way."
Nueces County Republican Chairman Mike Bertuzzi has called for Democrats to return the money. State Reps. Abel Herrero, Solomon Ortiz Jr. and Juan Garcia donated Celis' latest contributions to charity this week.
Herrero and Ortiz each said they received $1,000 for the 2008 election cycle, money that is not due to be reported until January. Herrero donated his to the Crime Victims Assistance Program, and Ortiz to the Boys and Girls Club on Greenwood Drive.
Garcia's latest contribution from Celis, also $1,000, was reported on the most recent campaign finance report in June. He donated it to South Texas Academic Rising Scholars, spokeswoman Elizabeth Lippincott said.
Past contributions were spent, according to the state representatives and the spokeswoman.
Herrero, a lawyer from Robstown, is one of the largest beneficiaries of Celis' donations. Herrero received $50,000 during his 2004 campaign, when he was not an incumbent, and $500 in 2006, when as an incumbent he received nominal opposition.
Garcia received a total of $17,000 from Celis, and Ortiz $25,000. Gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell received $50,000 and the use of a private plane, which campaign finance reports valued at $14,500.
Celis, 35, was relatively unknown to the public until a series of bizarre events thrust him into the limelight last month.
On Sept. 15, a nearly nude woman fled his Kings Crossing home, and Celis appeared on the scene flashing a Duval County sheriff's badge, asking that the woman be turned over to him, according to police reports. Celis' law enforcement credentials expired in 2003.
Then, local trial lawyer Thomas J. Henry began airing television commercials alleging Celis was not licensed to practice law anywhere. Henry has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a client who says Celis represented her as a lawyer earlier this year.
Democratic District Judge Marisela Saldaña signed an order Sept. 28 barring the airing of the commercials. Saldaña was at downtown restaurant Katz 21 at 7 p.m. on Sept. 28, a Friday, when she signed the order.
Saldaña received $4,500 from Celis and $5,000 from CGT Law Group in her 2006 campaign, when she moved up from court-at-law judge and survived a hotly contested primary and general election.
Saldaña said she routinely signs temporary restraining orders after hours outside the courthouse and has done so at Whataburger and convenience stores. "I'm a judge 24-7," she said.
The campaign contributions didn't influence her decision, Saldaña said. She pointed out the Law Offices of Thomas J. Henry donated $5,000 to her campaign in August 2006.
Andrew Wheat, research director at Texans for Public Justice, said lawyers commonly contribute to judges' campaigns in Texas. His group studies donations to Texas Supreme Court and appellate court candidates, but not district judges on a large scale because many do not file electronically with the state.
"Most people don't even know who these judges are except the people who practice in front of them," Wheat said. "The biggest source of money to these people are the lawyers that practice in front of them, and often the parties that practice in front of them."
At least one Republican has received money from Celis.
Aransas County Sheriff Mark Gilliam said he received $2,500 from Celis in his 2003 campaign. Gilliam said Celis did not support his 2005 campaign.
"I was a local street cop when he was a kid in high school," Gilliam said. Celis went to high school in Rockport.
"I wasn't aware of who he was, but (then-Nueces County Sheriff) Larry Olivarez introduced us and said he wants to support your campaign. This time around, he flat refused. Looking back on it now, I'm glad he did."
Olivarez now works for CGT Law Group. In bids for sheriff and Nueces County judge, Olivarez received $27,500 in contributions from Celis and $27,800 from CGT. Olivarez has not responded to repeated requests for an interview.
Admin Moderator please don't move this another forum. This isn't just a local story. It is directly releated to the withdrawal of a very rich self funded US Senate candidate last week.
With donations of $160,000 in the 2004 election cycle, Celis ranked No. 51 among Texas donors to statewide campaigns and committees, tracked by the nonprofit group Texans for Public Justice. Celis didn't rank in the 2006 cycle because his contributions fell below $150,00
Rats Ping!
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